Raiders trying to score huge upset

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When Penn women’s lacrosse coach Karin Brower first found out that the No.2-seeded Quakers (14-1, 7-0 Ivy) would be playing Colgate in the first round of the NCAA tournament, she literally had no clue what kind of team Colgate is, saying “we don’t know anything about Colgate." While she's certainly scouted the Raiders since then, most readers probably have not. So here it is, a preview on the Colgate women's lacrosse team:

Despite starting slow at 7-9, the Raiders have whipped off four straight victories to earn their spot in the NCAA tournament. But the run to get here certainly was pressure-filled, as their last three games all were single elimination ones. First they had the Patriot League Tournament semifinal against Lehigh, which they won 22-12. Then came the championship game at regular season champion American who they had previously lost to 13-10. But they exacted revenge winning 13-8. But their spot in the NCAAs wasn't clinched yet. They still had to win the play-in game against MAAC champion Marist. Yet they won that 19-18 to earn an NCAA bid.

They'll look to their recent stretch for inspiration.

"We’ve definitely already had that [pressure] experience with the play-in game," coach Heather Bliss said. "It was able to get some people to really focus for the week at hand. It was good to get some experience under our belt. Obviously we were successful in that game so that should give us a lot of confidence against Penn."

With the win the they are now in their third NCAA tournament in five years. (Penn meanwhile is only playing in its second since 1984 and fourth all-time.) However, the experience of playing in the tournament will be new to all but one player and one assistant coach.

"We actually have a really young team right now," Bliss said. "And with that our coaching staff is only in its second year. So for a lot of girls on the team it's going to be our first time. So as a program Colgate has been there three times in the past five year, but ... we only have two seniors on the team and actually one wasn't here freshmen year because she transferred. So it'll be a new experience for a lot of the girls. It's something we're definitely enjoying; we're soaking it all up."

Senior Jessica Van der Meulen and assistant coach Heidi Ross (a Colgate '06 alum) are the only two tournament veterans.

Van der Muelen has 14 assists and 32 goals (which would lead the Quakers), putting her third on the team in points. But in addition to the senior captain, the Raiders are led by sophomores Brie Moran and Meghan Lawler who have 53 points apiece.

This balance on offense is one of the teams biggest strengths.

"Some of our biggest strengths are on our attack," Bliss said. "We have seven girls that can be put the ball in the back of the net. Having that balance is really great for us. When teams mark up on two of us, we still have other girls who can get it done. We have a lot of depth."

If their offensive balance is their strength, their schedule was one of their weaknesses, according to Bliss.

"One of the weaker points is that we haven’t played as many top teams as Penn has played this season," Bliss said. "But I don't think that's anything that will hurt us going into the game. We'll still be really excited about it. But they've definitely faced some tougher competition than us this season."

So how do the Raiders matchup with the Quakers?

Looking at Colgate's past performance, they should watch out.  The Raiders are 4-7 on the road, and they're 0-5 when they score less than 10 goals.  Considering that the game is at Franklin Field and that Penn not only averages only six goals allowed per game, but its only given up as many as 10 goals once, the Raiders better hope their past performance is just that, in the past.

Knowing this, Bliss wants her team to focus.

"We have to be very patient with the attack," she said. "They have some very good one-on-one defenders. We're going to try to get some feeds.  We need to be disciplined and get control of the ball when its on our end."

The Raiders are aware that Penn has had a great season, and as such they will try to elevate their play to Penn's level.

"They’ve definitely had a great season," Bliss said.  "They're on a great run, and we know they obviously can get it done and be very successful against numerous teams. It's something that we’re keeping in on the back of our minds, trying to come  in there  and step up our play and hopefully get a win against them."