Coming off our easy win last Saturday, we had just two days to get our legs back under us, and be ready for the daunting challenge, of the Adelphi Panthers. I was hopeful that the trip to D.C. had given us at least a bit more confidence, that we would carry with us, against the super aggressive Panthers. This game would be the first time we would be at full strength, since the aforementioned “Internal Matter”. I was looking for that to give us a boost, as well.

Adelphi is a perennial powerhouse in Division II Lacrosse, and usually a National Championship Contender. While, this year, they have had a slow start, they seem to be getting it together as the season winds down. The Panthers are always highly skilled and speedy, with many weapons on offense and no obvious weaknesses on defense. I expected more of the same, this time.

Adelphi is a short van ride, for us, which was a nice contrast to our, there and back, trek to UDC, last week. Last week we drove through the beautiful neighborhood of Chevy Chase, Maryland on our way to and from UDC. Wednesday, we got to marvel at the beautiful homes in Garden City (sorry, no photos). It was a gorgeous, spring afternoon and as we warmed up, I was optimistic that we could meet this challenge and compete.

Adelphi won the opening Draw and opened the scoring, just 30 seconds into the game! But, then we got some traction, and were getting possessions and scoring opportunities, though we were not able to find the back of the net until there was just over 3 minutes remaining int the first quarter. The Panthers would add the final goal of the opening stanza, making it 4 – 1. At this point, we felt pretty good about how we were competing. Going forward, if we could just convert on more of our shots, we would be able to hang in there.

But, that was not what happened. Perhaps, Adelphi had just been warming up, as they came out flying, in the second quarter, outscoring the Lions 9 – 1! They pushed the ball aggressively, in transition, time and time again, using their speed advantage to score 4 goals, in just over one minute, at one point! They never looked back, and we were never able to mount any sustained attack, as they cruised to a demoralizing 20 – 3, win.

Trying to analyze and process a game like that, can be overwhelming. But, now that I have had a few days, I am able to find some positives. As we have done all year long, we showed flashes of the potential and talent, our team has. But, once again, except for the opening quarter, we were not able to match our opponent’s pace and intensity. When we did have “micro successes”, it was because we played fearlessly and with a certain degree of abandon. At times, we seemed afraid to fail. Our young team, needs to understand, that “failure is part of success”, and you cannot succeed, if you are afraid to fail, along the way.

We have only four games remaining. Three Conference Games and one make up game, that is out of Conference. All season long, I have remained optimistic, that we would be able to put it together and become the kind of team, we think we can be. But, we are running out of time, now. The outcome of these Conference Games, will determine, whether or not we qualify for the ECC Playoffs. I still believe in our team, but we can no longer be satisfied with small successes and flashes of talent and potential. It is time for us, to grow up, and play the kind of lacrosse we all think we are capable of.

The Lions will be back in action, this Wednesday, at home, against St. Thomas Aquinas, on our Senior Day!

Go Lions!