D’AMORE: THE KEY TO 2014
On Feb. 19, 2011, Johns Hopkins freshman Taylor D’Amore stepped onto Homewood Field for her collegiate debut against George Mason with intent to prove she belonged as a starter. Much to her team’s surprise, she whipped out a behind-the-back pass for an assist and a behind-the-back shot for a goal.
D’Amore finished with five goals in the Blue Jays’ 19-9 victory, the most by a Johns Hopkins freshman in her debut since a young Mary Key stormed onto the scene with five goals in the 2004 opener. The entire lacrosse community knew her name. Fast-forward to 2014, and D’Amore, the catalyst of Johns Hopkins’ school record-tying 10-0 start to the season, has emerged as Johns Hopkins’ first legitimate
Tewaaraton Award contender since Key was a finalist in 2007. That also was the last year the Blue Jays made the NCAA tournament. “That’s a no brainer,” Tucker said. “Mary Key and Taylor D’Amore are the two greatest players I’ve had the pleasure of coaching and the most impactful players.”
Johns Hopkins seniors have held true to the promise they made as freshmen — the “little monsters,” as Tucker called them — to bring the program back to where Key left it in 2007.
D’Amore, known so much for her intensity that Tucker used to bribe her to smile, is enjoying her finest season as a senior captain. “You’re playing lacrosse for three hours a day,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy about something.”
D’Amore has thrived (32 goals and 28 assists through 11 games) under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Steele Stanwick, the Ohio Machine and former Virginia attackman whose only directive from Tucker was not to conform to the women’s game. If he wanted triple picks, they gave him triple picks.
And they gave him D’Amore.
“I don’t think there’s one weakness in her game at all,” Stanwick said. “I know where I want to get the ball in a tight situation.”
— Megan Schneider
Taylor D’Amore has Johns Hopkins on the precipice of its first NCAA tournament since 2007.
Acacia Walker (top) took over as Boston College coach after the 2012 season and led the Eagles back to the NCAA tournament in 2013 behind All-American attacker Covie Stanwick (bottom).
last year. Rix and Sarah Mannelly are dynamic forces out of the midfield, while Stanwick orchestrates the rest of the of the Eagles offense, which averaged nearly 13 goals per game through March. “The next measurable step is to
knock off one of the top teams,” Walker said. “Getting close is not what our goal is. We want to win.” LM
A Publication of US Lacrosse May 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 47
©JOHN STROHSACKER (CS, TA)
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