Spring Break was this past week for Molloy. With no trip south, this year, we had our film and practices in the mornings. I thought our focus was very good, as we prepared for Saturday’s Game at Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester. We have played the Red Hawks twice, in each of the past two seasons – once in season and then again in the Conference Playoffs. We have been unable to prevail in any of those meetings. So, with a large senior class, facing their last guaranteed meeting with the Red Hawks, we were not lacking in motivation.

The Bus Ride to Rochester is about 7 hours. With that in mind, we practiced at 6am Friday, so everyone could get cleaned up, before boarding the bus, for the long trip North and West. It turned out to be a sunny, but cold and very windy day, and we ended up having, about as good a ride, as is possible.

When we arrived at the hotel, early Friday evening, I think we all felt like the trip had gone well and that we would be no worse for the wear, by Game Time on Saturday. For me, making the trip to Rochester always has the silver lining, of getting to see Jon and Diana! This time we got to have dinner together at Hooligans Bar and Grill, right across the street from the hotel. We had a nice long visit, before they went home. (I blew it again – No Photo!)

Yesterday, I was up early enough to get a decent workout in, before enjoying the standard “Hotel Breakfast”. I got cleaned up, and checked the weather forecast, which looked pretty good, only a slight chance of precipitation, when we would be playing, and the temperatures though falling, wouldn’t be too bad. When we arrived at Roberts Wesleyan, the sun was out, it was windy, but pleasant – I put Sunscreen on. By the time we took the field, for pre-game warm ups, that had changed.

As the game began, so did the rain, lightly at first, then heavier. The weather would go from bad to worse, to almost ridiculous, during the course of the contest. Making the playing conditions, difficult to say the least.

The Lions began the game fairly well, except for being held scoreless in the first quarter and falling behind 3 – 0! As usual, it was a series of mostly self inflicted wounds that led to the deficit. But the Lions showed their heart, by scoring 5 of the next 6 goals, and taking a brief 5 – 4 lead, almost mid way through the second quarter. Roberts Wesleyan responded with a couple of scores, and took a one goal advantage into the intermission.

The Lions avoided the customary third quarter slide, but did lose a bit of ground, as we trailed 10 – 8 , as the game headed into the final quarter. The Red Hawks opened up, what seemed like a huge five goal lead, netting three goals in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. With the score 13 – 8, and heavy wind driven snow, coming sown sideways, the Lady Lions would not go down without a fight. But, we were never able to close the gap to less than three, and the game ended with a final score of 15 – 12.

As has been the case, far too many times, this season, there were many positive things we can take from this game, despite the result. We had some terrific individual performances and played more high level lacrosse in this game, than in any other. I was proud of the grit, our team showed in battling back, more than once. You have to credit Roberts Wesleyan, for finding a way to open up that lead in a tightly contested struggle, and then to hold us off. Unlike most of our other losses in close games, this one was statistically, pretty even.

I don’t think anyone would have predicted we would be 1 – 9, at this point of the season. The challenge for us, now, is to remain positive. There is a lot of lacrosse left to be played. If we can overcome these setbacks, learn from them and make corrections, we can come out on the other side of it, stronger. We have to keep the Faith.

GO LIONS!