ALBANY — University at Albany women’s lacrosse coach Katie Thomson said she never brought up last year’s America East championship game loss to Vermont as she prepared her players for Saturday’s rematch against the Catamounts.
Thomson said the Great Danes are working with local sports psychologist Wally Bzdell to keep her team attuned to what matters this season.
“We’re really focused on what this team is all about,” she said. “It’s a new team, a new year and a new process and we’re really focused on that and really taking it game by game.”
While Bzdell can help the Great Danes with their mental performance, he can’t wipe their memories. After UAlbany beat Vermont 12-9 in their league opener on Saturday at John Fallon Field, graduate defender Courtney Rafferty of Altamont acknowledged the victory was a little sweeter because of last year’s 12-11 title game loss at home to the Catamounts.
“Absolutely,” Rafferty said. “This was almost more important to me than that one. Just coming back as a fifth-year (player), wanting to make a statement, I guess, as my last year here and we were able to do that so far.”
Rafferty and her defensive teammates, including senior goalie Aislynn Sweeney of Halfmoon, held Vermont scoreless from 2:30 left in the first quarter until six minutes remained in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, UAlbany (5-5 overall, 1-0 America East) scored five unanswered goals to grab a 7-3 lead.
“The defense was so locked in today,” Thomson said. “They did a great job on preparing the last couple of days for this game and just their communication and their connection was so on point. They were so controlled while still being aggressive. So very happy with that and Sweeney did a great job in cage today.”
Sweeney finished with six saves, including four in the fourth quarter to stave off a rally by Vermont (4-5,…
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