After our easy win over Holy Family on Wednesday, we had some beautiful weather for our two practices, leading up to yesterday’s game against the Firebirds of the University of District of Columbia. With the short turnaround between games, and a number of players being a bit banged up, we took it easier than normal, in practice. Still, I felt that we were productive on both days.

Yesterday, was a beautiful, sunny, spring day, with temperatures in the mid-seventies! (at least it started that way) I arrived at the field early enough to watch the Men’s Lacrosse Team defeat D’Youville, 24 – 4! But, I was actually only glancing at that game during the breaks of the Nazareth Women’s (Diana’s Team) game against Utica, which I was able to watch on my phone. Just as we prepared to take the field to warm up for our game, Naz finished off Utica 19 – 9! With all those good vibes, I felt pretty good going into our game.

To say that the visiting Firebirds were overmatched, would be an understatement. They played with only 9 field players (2 shy of the full complement). And while they competed very hard, and have some very good athletes, they were not able to stay with the Lions, at all. We jumped all over them from the onset, and led 13 – 0 by halftime. In a carefully orchestrated second half, Molloy was able to play everyone, en route to an 18 – 1 win. On the day, 11 different players found the back of the net, 4 of them scoring for the first time as Lions! I also loved the fact that 12 of our goals were assisted.

Playing against a weaker opponent, one of the biggest challenges, is to continue to play to your own standards. For the most part, I felt we were able to do that, in almost all facets of the game. It was great to see players performing well, when getting their first taste of extended playing time. And I loved the enthusiasm and team spirit displayed by the starters, when they were no longer on the field. All in all, it was quite a “feel good” day!

Now, we have a full week to prepare for a huge Conference Game, at home against the Mercy Mavericks, on Saturday. I am hoping we can continue with all of the good vibes, and build on the two victories we just had. We will need the “Three E’s” – Energy, Effort and Enthusiasm, in abundance. And to be successful against an excellent team, like Mercy, we will need that elusive, “Fourth E” – Execution.

I know we can do it, it is time to get to it done.

GO LIONS!