Coyne raises standards in 2000
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Associate Sports Editor
After three winning seasons in three years of existence, one might believe women's lacrosse head coach Tracey Coyne would be satisfied with the progress her team has made.
She's not.
Following a 9-6 `99 campaign, Coyne is ready for the Irish to transform themselves from a solid Midwest lacrosse program into a competitive national program.
"We want to peak this year," she said. "We are not waiting around. Last year we talked about things we wanted to accomplish and they didn't happen. Not to take anything away from the 9-6 season but we have higher expectations this year."
The Irish get their first chance to live up to those expectations Sunday when they travel to Colorado to take on the University of Denver Pioneers.
The Irish showed that this might be the year that they live up to Coyne's expectations last weekend when they traveled to Loyola (Md.) and defeated No. 3 Virginia in an exhibition game.
The 2000 Irish squad is the most experienced and talented team that Coyne has ever had. Led by 50-goal scorer Lael O'Shaughnessy, the young Irish team teams returns nine starters — none of which are seniors.
"We are another year older," Coyne said. "We just have so many more people with experience in big games."
Winning the big games is the primary goal of this year's team, according to Coyne. Last year's team picked up nine wins, but never upset a top team. With a tough schedule this year, Coyne expects the Irish to surprise some of the top teams in the country.
"We have a much more competitive schedule but I think we are more prepared," Coyne said. "Last year was kind of disappointing because we only beat the teams that we should beat. We had some big wins but we really didn't knock anyone off. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves as a team."
The Irish face stiff tests from nation powers Duke, ranked second in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association preseason poll and Georgetown, ranked sixth in the IWLCA preseason poll. In addition the Irish face four other preseason top 25 teams in Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Syracuse and Rutgers.
Last season, the Irish goaltending concerned Coyne. To strengthen her team between the pipes, Coyne recruited freshman Jen White and accepted transfer Tara Durkin from the University of Massachusetts.
Durkin impressed Coyne in the win over Virginia and earned the starting nod against Denver. The competition for the starting goaltender is far from over, however.
"Obviously strength in the goal is a key component to winning," Coyne said. "There is a lot of competition at that position. But we are expecting Carrie Marshal and Jen White to push her in practice and play a role in the rest of the season."
Coyne believes that with Durkin in net, the Irish can compete with any program.
Without any senior starters, the Irish will rely on a core of juniors for leadership. The juniors, who were the first class recruited by Coyne, have always been leaders.
"I think the juniors have done a great job," Coyne said. "Last year, when they were sophomores, they had to step up. So they've always had to step up. They are a determined group and they understand what the goals of the program are."
Those goals are just a little bit higher this year.
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 3, 2000
