May 13, 2007
Post-game Quotes
May 13, 2007; Syracuse at Vanderbilt
VU Lacrosse Complex; Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Cathy Swezey
Opening statement:
“Our season is bigger than just one game, and we’ve had an unbelievable season. I’m very proud of our team effort. Our leadership was phenomenal, and our effort was phenomenal. i don’t think this game really reflects what we’ve accomplished all year. We hate to bow out early, but we’re proud of our girls’ efforts.”
On VU’s game plan:
“I think we actually played a great game. There may have been small breakdowns on the field, but i think our game plan was really strong. In the first half, we didn’t execute some of our game plan on defense, and we allowed them to have some strong one-v-one’s to goal. But in the second half, we did step up and push to them to their weak hand, which was our plan. One thing that was a little unexpected was their ability to control the draw. We really expected to be controlling that aspect of the game. Early on, we got the first three or four draws, but then they took control of that aspect of the game, and it affected the game quite a bit.”
On draw controls:
“It’s a 50-50 ball, so it’s just a matter of repetition and practice. Until you put your center on their center, you don’t know who’s going to get that jump, so you just have to practice reaction time and getting to the ball.”
On VU’s 2-0 start:
“I thought we had a great start. I felt really good and we looked solid. Truthfully, i really feel like we played a good game. The score was not reflective of the game. We were really in this game. And I would really say they were in it with us. I don’t think they really controlled the game. A six-goal win is not necesarily how it really played out, but I think we had a great effort.”
On VU’s graduating class:
“We’re talking about a senior class that as freshmen went to the Final Four. We’ve had to suffer through two young and inexperienced years, and it was difficult. Even early on this year, we had a couple of losses that didn’t look so good on our record. The great thing about our seniors is what they did from that point on. Their leadership was phenomenal. They were great leaders, but they also helped everyone on the team become great leaders, and they helped everybody find their strengths. We truly were a team led by 27 people. A different person each day was at her best.”
VU Junior Attack Margie Curran
“It was a great season. Our scoring was really spread out, kind of something new for this team. We had a lot of girls score a lot of goals this year, and that was really a key to a lot of our games, having a lot of people stepping up.”
On the NCAA Tournament atmosphere:
“I know my class got a taste of it, because the past two years we haven’t been. So we really want to be back here next year. Its a whole different level, the NCAA’s. Teams are playing 100 percent better and i know we’ll work hard to get back next year.”
On the feel of the game:
“It was a close game. We scored the first few goals, but we never thought we’d run away with it. They were very strong and they were able to answer back. So I agree, I think it was a really back-and-forth game. I don’t think they dominated the whole game, and both teams fought really hard.”
Syracuse Head Coach Lisa Miller
Opening statement:
“We’re pleased with the outcome. Our kids fought. We were a little off early in the game. We put ourselves in a hole. But we came back and just kept fighting and fighting and fighting until we got our rhythm. Overall, I’m just very pleased with the way the kids played today.”
On controlling the draw:
“We spent all week working on it. We worked on angles, worked on ground balls off of it. We would stop and talk about the space that you should be going into. We spent a good chunk of time trying to fix it this week, and I thought we did a much better job. We also switched some personnel around. Lindsay [Rogers] turned the tide. She’s a scrapper, and she’s tough. She’s low to the ground and she explodes out of the pack really well.”
On SU’s slow start:
“It’s a beautiful day, you’re on the road — it just takes a little bit of time to get going. But while we were struggling, our kids were still making plays. They’d have a takeaway, or they’d come up with a ground ball. I thought it was only a matter of time before things started to click.”
On SU’s offense:
“The kids up top were outstanding. Christina Dove had a great day, so did Katie [Rowan]. It’s a team effort. When they take one thing away, you lean on another. You just keep testing the fence. That’s what good offenses do.”
On her first win in the NCAA Tournament:
“They were going to etch it on my gravestone if we didn’t have a win sooner or later. This whole season has been a pleasure. This group of kids has been wonderful to work with. This is a wonderful thing for the program. I feel like I did when I was 22 or 23 coaching. This is a young group, they’re excited, they’re easy to work with, and they like each other. To grab a win in the NCAA tournament just makes it all that much better.”
SU Sophomore Attack Katie Rowan
On Syracuse’s first win in the NCAA Tournament:
“It’s a great feeling to win the first for the program. We’re really excited, but now we have to get ready for the next game.”
On her offensive teammates:
“The team gets me the ball. I wouldn’t be able to dodge and get through without having the ball, so i really have to say thanks to the team.”
On controlling the draw:
“Lindsay Rogers did a great job on the draw control today, getting a lot of them. We’ve been practicing draw controls a lot this week. You need the ball to score, so the draw is really important.”
