The Huskies look to build momentum against Dartmouth. Photo by Kevin Lindstrom/The Daily Campus
UConn women’s lacrosse started conference play well against Cincinnati. Although their first matchup in conference play did not result in a win, they look to keep the same, if not more, intensity going into their next conference matchup against the Dartmouth Kegs.
Dartmouth (6-3) has been doing well this season and will meet the Huskies on their home field, Scully-Fahey Field.
Having only won two games this season out of the 11 total games played, many may think the Huskies (2-9, 0-1 The American) have something to prove, but sophomore Sydney Watson begs to differ.
“We don’t necessarily feel like we have something to prove. We know how we can play and we just haven’t been playing that way,” said Watson. “For example, in Cincinnati we got a goal right away, then fell off track, then proved exactly what we could do in the second half, crawling back goal by goal. It just happened to be too late. So we know what we can do, it’s just a matter of starting with it from the first whistle.”
Senior captain Caitlin Leary surely had a standout senior performance in the Huskies’ last game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, which opened conference play. Leary put up six of the Huskies’ nine points, with two being obtained from assists from Lia LePrise and Watson, and the other four being a result of Leary’s ability to maneuver through the defense. Leary is looking to make the most out of her senior season and is doing all that is required of her and more to help her team.
Conference play gives the Huskies a chance to lift themselves out of their current state, so Dartmouth is up for a challenge.
“Going up against Dartmouth we know it’ll be a tough game,” Watson said. “They’re a really good, ranked team. I think if we come together and play like we know we can, we’ll be able to have a day. Conference play, we are going into with a new slate. Every game is a new game and we look at it that way. We feel like once we get a hold of the little things we will push harder and be better.”
The last six games of the regular season start with Dartmouth. Spectators are on edge to see if this talented UConn team can turn their fate around. Opening draw control is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Hanaisha Lewis is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at hanaisha.lewis@uconn.edu.
