surrounding the high school’s field to sign autographs for some young boys who watched the session. Down the line to her left, Adams does the same with another group of fans.
“It took me a little while to settle in,”
Wills says. “Once I got my feet wet, there was that frustration of wanting that one back like normal [after a goal]. It was a good starting point. It’s great being around all these guys. Everyone is awesome. It was hard not knowing what to expect coming in. I was going to be nervous no matter what. But I finally settled in a little bit. Nervous is good. It gives you a little gut-check.” Any significant differences, a
reporter asks? How about those long- range shots?
“The shots that were a little farther out, in girls’ they throw a fake a lot,” Wills says. “I was thinking about holding, holding, holding and I was just late to outside shots.”
2:02 p.m. Smithtown, N.Y.
After a two-hour break, Wills trots onto the turf field now at Smithtown West (N.Y.) High, about a 15-minute drive west of Centereach, for the second and final session of the day — and of her MLL tryout. Because of USC’s game schedule in April, which included a big April 20 upset of then- No. 12 Stanford, Wills can’t make any of the Lizards’ four remaining training days before their April 27 opener against Rochester. Wills’ afternoon workout begins with assistant Keith Cromwell shooting warm-up shots and Duffy describing man-down defense. During these times, Wills’ coaching light bulb turns on, and she visualizes taking certain concepts back to USC.
Soon enough, it’s time to roll the ball out and let the pros play. The last hour of the afternoon session features a full-field scrimmage. Wills, rotating with Adams, unofficially makes two saves — including one when she ranged low on a shot from the outside, similar to the one that eluded her in the morning — and allows two goals. Adams makes three saves and allows two goals. Brady makes three saves and allows five goals. Madalon allows three goals. One notable thing missing from Wills’ workout: her trademark out-of-cage play for which she is known in the women’s game, picking off passes and carrying the ball up the field to start
56 LACROSSE MAGAZINE June 2014>>
Untapped Pipeline Where have all the great goalies gone?
By Megan Schneider The progressive era of women’s lacrosse has arrived. Former players from the men’s
game continue to enter the women’s coaching ranks and exert influence on the style of play. New rules — from the implementation of eyewear and hard boundaries to defenders running through the crease — have changed the game over the last decade. Advancements in stick technology have allowed for greater control,
speed and accuracy of shots, which in turn has escalated the pace of the game and elevated stick skills. Nowhere is the evolution more apparent than in the ACC, which this year includes Syracuse, Maryland and defending NCAA champion North Carolina. But a look between the pipes at these perennial final four contenders also reveals a curious anomaly: instability at the goalie position. As the 2014 season unfolded, Syracuse continued to platoon
A Publication of US Lacrosse
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