After last week’s huge win over Mercy, we had only two days before taking the field again, versus Non Conference Opponent, Caldwell. We only watched film on Monday, and Tuesday’s practice was a bit sluggish. I got the sense, there was a collective, emotional hangover, still lingering.

Wednesday was a beautiful day for lacrosse (and pretty much anything else)! Our energy was better, but we were not nearly as sharp as we would have liked. Despite that, Caldwell was completely overmatched, as the Lions built a 12 – 1 halftime lead and cruised to a thorough, if not pretty 19 – 4 victory. We had nine different scorers, and everyone got extensive playing time. Still, it was not as crisp, as it should have been.

Now we turned our attention back to the Conference and our next game, against the Wildcats of Daeman University, in Buffalo. We had two, much more intense practices on Thursday and Friday. Many of the players recalled a difficult meeting with Daeman, two years ago. So, we were guarding against being over confident. Friday’s practice was at 6am in the rain, before we got cleaned up and boarded the bus for the 9 hour ride to Buffalo.

The Bus Ride to Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester is far. Though Buffalo is only one hour further, it seems way longer! The long final leg, on the mostly straight and mostly flat, Route 90, seems to go on forever. When we arrived at the Hotel, around 5pm, everyone was eager to be off that bus!

Shortly after arriving at our Hotel, I met up with my friend Ed Greenway. We have stayed in touch since our daughters were teammates at Mercyhurst, and while these trips to Buffalo can be difficult, one silver lining, is that I will hopefully, get to catch up with Ed. We ended up having dinner at the Eagle House in Williamsvillehttps://eaglehouseonline.com/, just a few minutes from the Hotel. It was a great place, steeped in history with excellent food (when in Buffalo, you really should have Wings!, I did). But, it was the company and conversation that made my night! The time flies by quickly, in such a visit, and always seems too short. But, I was grateful we got to do it, and look forward to the next time.

I slept like a baby, that night and woke early to eat breakfast and get a workout in. Our game was not until 3pm, and after getting cleaned up, there was not much to do but find ways to kill time, before getting back on the bus, to head to Buffalo State, where Daeman plays their home games.

After lounging around the Hotel Lobby, watching the “Game Day Hair” Production, it was finally time to get back on the Bus. I don’t know how the players were feeling, but Coach Pepe and I, were both, concerned about this game (though we never spoke of it, until after the game). As I said before, we had a difficult time with them, two years ago. And after all of our early season disappointments, the long bus travel, I was worried we would have some kind of let down, after the emotional high, of the win over Mercy.

It turns out, our concerns were unfounded. It seems, the Lady Lions really came to play, yesterday! We jumped all over the Wildcats, scoring early and often, and our defense was stifling. We led 5 – 0 at the end of the first quarter and 11 – 0 at the half! We controlled the game in every way, dominating time of possession. When Daeman did gain possession, they were relentlessly suffocated at every turn. In what was one of the more complete games our team has played, since I have been at Molloy, the Lions triumphed by a final score of 15 – 1 (with Daeman getting its lone goal with 1:16 remaining)!

It was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a dominant performance against a big, fast and physical team! We have now won five consecutive games, and it really seems as though we have turned a corner. With two Conference Games remaining in the regular season and the ECC Playoffs coming into view, on the horizon, do I dare say, we might have found our MOJO!

Next up, is Senior Day, next Saturday against D’Youville!

GO LIONS!