Excerpts from Post-Game News Conference, NCAA Women's Lacrosse Quarterfinals

Syracuse 7, JMU 3, May 22, 2010



Syracuse Coach Gary Gait:

Opening Statement:

"James Madison is an exceptional team.  They played a great game today and certainly gave us everything we could handle, and they should be very proud of the great season.



"We weathered the storm out there today.  (Sometimes) it's how you respond to when you don’t make the perfect play, and they responded every time in that second half and they weren’t going to be denied. They played just an incredible game and I can’t be any more proud than I am of the Syracuse Orange."



Q: Can you talk a little bit about what you did so effectively defensively in the second half?

"We kept the ball in the offensive end of the field.  That was a start.  It forced them to really push it a little bit.  When they did get the ball, I think they forced it a little bit.  (Junior goalkeeper) Liz (Hogan) played unbelievable today, as a junior goalie, every time they thought they had a chance, she shut the door on them.  It was exciting. When we get the ball back, we took our time, we were patient and we get two, three, four opportunities at possession and I think we just wore them down on that second half and really took control of the game."



Q. You generally build a more fast-paced scoring.  What did they do to slow things down?  Where you worried that the girls couldn’t play that style?

"I wasn’t worried, no. The last couple games we’ve been very patient and working on it, not rushing and taking our time so that our defense can rest when we’re on offense.  We want our defense as fresh as possible at all times so that at the end of the game they are ready to go.  I think today was a result of that.  We’ve been working on it for a while now. We didn’t need to run and gun.  We just needed to have more possessions than they did and draw controls in the second half were big and very important and gave us the opportunity to execute some plays and they did it to perfection and got to call the shots."



Q. Coach, what changed for you at halftime? Did the long halftime help? Did you tell your team anything different?

I think that in a low-scoring game like that and we were struggling to put the ball in the net. We were certainly getting the opportunities.  It allowed us to go back in. We took a little break, we shut our eyes and refocused and visualized and saw ourselves playing a better second half. Then we had time to sit there and talk about it and that just allowed us to prepare as well as we possibly could have.  (We) came up with a possession.  Hallie put the first play, called it, and she finished it and she scored it and started us on our run.



Q. So what about his group? The seniors and team that has now made it two final fours in three years, stepped up in big situations? What is it about this group of players?

"These are the seniors that have taken Syracuse women’s lacrosse from a top 20 program to a top 10 program.  They’ve been exceptional and through their years, a top four program.  They’ve been a group to lead the way for this team and we’re gonna ride them the rest of the way. They’ve just been exceptional and they mean everything to the program."



James Madison Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe:

Opening Statement:

'I’m really proud of my team for showing tremendous heart and tremendous fight to get this program back on top.  They really are truly to be commended, and I can’t thank them enough for allowing us to complete in the elite eight today.  I think that ultimately in the end of the game, we just didn’t take care of the ball in the second half when we needed to."



Q. What was going on differently in the second half?

"I’m not really sure; it’s still a little bit of a fog right now.  I think that it was just composure because we really did make some nice plays down in the defensive end in midfield to cause some turnovers.  We just had momentarily lapses of toughness and decision-making skills to make the right play to maintain possession. I think that it was unfortunate."



Q. Coach, can you talk about how far this group has come?

"I think that it’s not only what they’ve done on the field, it’s what they’ve done off the field.  They really came together as a team and committed to a common goal and they were willing to make sacrifices that were really tough in the off-season to get us headed in the right direction.  I think that those off-field characteristic traits and those off-field sacrifices is what really propelled this team forward and showed them they had what it took to take that leap.  In the game of life, it’s very seldom that you can end your season with a win.  I think, like I told them, a lot of people are going to remember this game, but there is a whole season of events that led them to this point and the leadership and the toughness that this team showed this year is really to be commended and I’m very proud of these ladies."

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