card for abusive language. Tumolo later was fined and formally reprimanded by the NCAA for the incident. In that game, Northwestern defender Kerri Harrington’s tight coverage kept Tumolo out of the attack, and made her frustrated enough to lash out. The Wildcats won 8-6. Eight days later, Tumolo ripped Northwestern for its stall tactics in an interview with a Syracuse sports website, saying the Wildcats
ground balls, and that messed with Michelle a little bit too,” Myers said. “It was just enough to emotionally knock her off her kilter.” After the red card in the final, Conklin reminded Tumolo that Mullica Hills, N.J., is full of little girls who paint black triangles on their faces and wear their hair in long braids down their backs. They all want to be like Tumolo, the hometown hero who still turns up at
Tumolo likes Syracuse lacrosse because it’s fast-paced and exciting. She loves her team like family, and she’s allowed to make mistakes in the Orange’s system. You can throw a crazy behind- the-head shot, and even if it misses, you don’t get scolded or benched. “If you make a mistake, you learn from it, and that’s why I’m the player that I am,” Tumolo said. “I will not say anything to a ref, believe me. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Mute. I’ll keep my mouth shut and play the game. I just want people to know that. I promise, I’m a nice kid.” Tumolo watched from the stands as Syracuse rolled to a 21-8 win at Jacksonville in its opener Jan. 13. Sitting and watching. Those are her least favorite things to do. She couldn’t wait to get on the field with veteran teammates like Murray and Kailah Kempney, and new ones like Kayla Treanor, a freshman who scored five goals. Tumolo couldn’t wait to play. To experiment and make mistakes. To learn and create. “In soccer, I was the girl who would
try to dive and do a head ball. And in lacrosse, there are endless ways to be creative,” she said. “I’m still learning things. There are still things I don’t know.” LM
were scared to play the Orange straight up. She also criticized the officiating. A tough faceguard is the most efficient way to combat Tumolo’s strengths, even if it opens up threats like Alyssa Murray and Katie Webster for more looks. Last season, Virginia shut out Tumolo in a 9-7 Cavaliers win. “We wanted to keep her below goal line, and limit how effective her touches and her angles were. The team did a great job of winning draws and getting
Surrounded by teammates, Tumolo (35) manages a smile as she holds the second-place trophy following a loss to Northwestern in the 2012 NCAA final.
Clearview practices from time to time. “I was so mad when she got carded. I said, ‘Michelle, you’re a role model, you’re a leader. What are you doing?’” Conklin said. Tumolo’s response was calm. “She said, ‘That’s OK. I’m going to get better,’” Conklin said.
THE NEXT EPISODE Syracuse-Florida series heats up in Miami
Has a rivalry ever gotten so hot — and the stakes so high — so quickly?
Syracuse and Florida renew pleasantries March 2 at SunLife Stadium in Miami, a rematch of the epic 2012 NCAA semifinal in which the Orange surmounted a seven-goal deficit to win in double overtime. “That’s our driving force every day,” Florida senior midfielder Brittany Dashiell said.
March 19, 2011
As a second-year program, host Florida’s first signature win did not come easily. After five ties and six lead changes in the first half, the Gators pulled away, backed by Ashley Bruns’ six-goal performance. “It felt really great to beat a team that went to the final four last year,” Dashiell said afterward.
Florida 16 Syracuse 11
66 LACROSSE MAGAZINE March 2013 >> March 3, 2012
Syracuse ran out to a fast lead. Host Florida crept back in the game, and Kitty Cullen scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. They traded goals in the first extra period before Syracuse’s Katie Webster scored the game-winner.
May 25, 2012
In the NCAA semifinals, the Gators jumped on the Orange and led 14-7 midway through the second half. But Syracuse famously rallied from that seven-goal deficit to force overtime. Gabi Wiegand scored what appeared to be the game-winner for the Gators, but the goal was disallowed for an illegal stick. Sarah Holden’s unassisted goal won it for Syracuse in double overtime.
Syracuse 12 Florida 11 (OT)
Syracuse 14 Florida 13 (2OT)
A Publication of US Lacrosse
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