Dolphins bounce back after heartbreaking loss to arch-rival

Entering into a game is always suspenseful, and the intensity increases when you’re up against your rivals. 

The College of Mount Saint Vincent (CMSV) women’s lacrosse team took on one of its biggest rivals, Mount Saint Mary, on Saturday afternoon and suffered a 14-3 loss. The Dolphins rebounded on Monday with a 19-6 win over Centenary College in a non-conference game. 

CMSV has lost to Mount Saint Mary the last two years, including an 18-8 decision last season. The friction between the teams has gone on both on and off the field over the years. Going into Saturday’s game, the Dolphins were eager to prove themselves.

To add to the tension, there was a constant downpour throughout all 60 minutes of play. When the first whistle blew and the ball went up, it felt like an explosion of players and emotions on the field.

The Dolphins held their own for the first eight minutes. But Mount Saint Mary pulled ahead at the 21:18 mark of the first half to start a six-goal run. Going into halftime, CMSV trailed 8-3, and MSM scored all six goals of the second half.

Junior Melina Mezzanotte scored two goals for CMSV and junior Kelly Fraser had the other. Samantha Ramsden had an assist and three ground balls, and I made 12 saves.

CMSV put a lot of strong and experienced players on the field. The defending line was made up of all seniors, while three juniors and a sophomore formed the attack. Being a junior, starting in the goal is not a new experience for me.

Stepping onto the field as a goalie, the pressure builds in a different way than it does for other players. It is difficult to be a goalie in a losing game. Each goal that goes in weighs on you and you have to try to shake it and stay in the present. 

It is easy to see everything that happens from the goal. It’s important to talk to the other players on the team to keep everyone in position. Chemistry is a key component in lacrosse. Without it, the players cannot connect on the field. The Dolphins play with strong chemistry, especially the upperclassmen who have been playing together for so long. The players are able to rely on each other for backup without even verbally communicating.

While Saturday’s loss was a difficult one, Monday’s win saw the Dolphins score a season-high 19 goals, led by five from Fraser. Senior Laura Carr had two goals and four assists, and Mezzanotte scored three goals.

CMSV is now 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Skyline Conference. 

CMSV will return to action on Wednesday, when it plays host to Farmingdale State at 5 p.m. in a Skyline Conference game. The Dolphins will then travel to Long Island to play St. Joseph’s College at noon on Saturday.

Kaitlin McCormack is the starting goalie for the College of Mount Saint Vincent women’s lacrosse team.