FOJ Day

Jaclyn Murphy of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation

On April 5, 2014, the Adelphi Women's Lacrosse team will be participating in FOJ Day to support the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. 

Since 2005, the Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children and their families who are battling pediatric brain tumors and to raise awareness about this insidious disease. FOJ pairs up children and their families battling pediatric brain tumors with college and high school sports teams. The teams give these children love, support and friendship as they fight this devastating disease. We celebrate each day by creating lasting relationships between student athletes, the child, and their families. This greatly improves the quality of life for children with brain tumors, as well as those who support them.*




To help bring awareness to the world about battling pediatric brain tumors, the Lady Panthers have set up a page for donations for FoJ. To donate to this amazing cause, please click here.

*Courtesy of FOJ mission statement

And We're Back! 

My sincerest apologies for the long hiatus. Preseason and travel have kept me off of the blogosphere for longer than I would have liked. With that said, the season must go on!

To recap what's been going on...

1. Preseason: Four words: can't stop, won't stop. Practices were tough (and sometimes long), and with the New York Winter being in full force, the Panthers were both inside and outside all preseason long.

2. Grand Valley State University: Traveling to Michigan was a great first-time Panther experience. It gave the team the chance to bond even more before their season opener. The game was held indoors at Michigan Country Day School due to the inclement weather in the Mitten State. Though the Panthers did not play their best game, they were able to capture their first "W" of the season with a score of 17-3.

Class of 2014

Class of 2015

Class of 2016

Class of 2017

3. Lindenwood University: Back outdoors in chilly Missouri, the Lady Panthers battled adversity throughout the game. A halftime score of just 5-5, Adelphi's lowest scoring half since the LIU Post Semi-final game last May, they knew the big and strong Lindenwood team would be tough to beat in the second half. 

The scoring went back and forth throughout the rest of the game, with the Lions even upping Adelphi by two with 14 minutes remaining. 

However, the Panthers dug deep and stayed persistent, scantily coming out with a win. Final score: 13-11 Adelphi. 

4. What's Up Next: The women's lacrosse team will be playing Philadelphia University on Saturday, March 8 at Philadelphia. With a full week of practice ahead, the Panthers will be pushing themselves to make sure they are playing their best every time they step on the field.

Happy Holidays! 

From Adelphi University Women's Lacrosse Coaches, 

Rob Grella, Erica DeVito, Nicole Flego, and Brittany Davis

Getting to know: Kelly Osmulski

Kelly Osmulski

This is Alexa Froccaro reporting from the Center for Recreation and Sports. I'm here today with Kelly Osmulski, who will be playing for Adelphi's women's lacrosse team in the 2014 season. 

1. What is your name and position and where are you from?

 
Hi, my name is Kelly Osmulski. I'm from Summit New Jersey and I play midfield. 

Transfer Kelly Osmulski is looking forward to the 2014 season.

2. You transferred from Division I UMass. Why did you go Division II and why did you choose Adelphi?

I decided to come to Adelphi because academically I needed smaller classes, and I also still wanted to play lacrosse and I didn't want the commitment as a D1 player, so I thought D2 would be the best.

3. What are you most looking forward to now that you are a Panther?

The thing that I'm most looking forward to when being a Panther is that playing with a group of girls who are as good as D1 players and winning a national championship with them this season. 

4. What advice do you have for girls who want to play lacrosse in college?

 The tip that I have for girls playing in college is that they should really go to a school that they actually love and can see themselves at academically, socially, and then sport wise. 

  5. Do you have any superstitions?

 No, I don't have any superstitions on the field. I just like to go out there and kick some ass. I don't know if I can say that? 

6. Who is your sports idle?


My sports idle is my dad, because he was a really good athlete when he was younger. He played in the minor leagues for the Cleveland Indians, and he also helped me throughout all of the three sports I played which was soccer, basketball, and lacrosse.

Osmulski has "Pantherswag"

How To: Play Midfield

Midfielders in lacrosse have to play both offense and defense. In order to do this, players must be in impeccable shape, because they have control over the entire field, and not just one section. Though midfield can be daunting at times, a great midfielder can change the pace of an entire game.

Junior Felicia Mills winning a draw at midfield.
Photo c/o photos.syracuse.com

Some things that you must be good at in order to be a great midfielder are:

1. Be in great physical shape:
A good midfielder needs to dominate in both settled situations and in transition. Though there are sometimes midfield lines (each "line" consists of new midfielders who sub in to give others a break), there can be situations when teams don't score goals for minutes at a time. Because of that, your chances of subbing out for rest are limited. Be sure that you can run for long amounts of time, and at different speeds. This will help you adjust to the constant movement during a game.

Sophomore Rachel Aitkens running the ball up the field.*

2. Work on your stick skills:
A midfielder constantly has the ball. Whether it is in transition (going from one side of the field to the other) or in a settled situation, having good stick skills is a must. Play some wall ball or pass around with a teammate to fine tune your catching and throwing skills.

3. Work on ground balls:
Ground balls may seem like something that are relatively easy to get. However, if you are going after a ground ball that four other girls are running at as well, you must be able to beat them. You have to bend down, scoop the ball and bring it close to your face (so no one can check you). Ground balls can change the pace of an entire game, because if you capitalize on them whether it be off the draw or when someone turns it over, the ball is in your stick and not your opponents.

Junior Danielle Jaycox scooping up a ground ball.*

4. Know how to play defense:
As aforementioned in a prior post, defense is one of the most important positions in women's lacrosse. Your defense can make or break you, and being a midfielder, you must be in sync with other defenders. One misstep and it can lead to a goal.

The Panthers have a very strong midfield. This year it will be led by juniors Felicia Mills and Danielle Jaycox. Jaycox was a Second-Team All-Region pick by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association as well as one of six players chosen for the Northeast-10 All-Tournament Team.

Captain Meg Brown will also be making her return to midfield after an ACL injury took her out in the second game of the 2013 season, against Molloy. Sophomore Rachel Aitkens and transfer Kelly Osmulski will also be taking the field as midfielders in the 2014 season.

Senior Meg Brown will step on Motamed Field once again for her
fourth season with the Panthers this Spring. *

*Photos c/o aupanthers.com

The Countdown Begins!

January 17, 2014 will be the first day of the women's lacrosse season at Adelphi University.

The Adelphi Panthers in their 2013 season are looking forward to the 2014 season.

Photos c/o aupanthers.com

How To: Play Defense

Defense is undoubtedly one of the most important part of the game of lacrosse, even though it doesn't get nearly as much recognition. Your defensive unit can make or break your team. A great defense will stop a rival from getting in range to shoot or score. A bad one can put you out of reach for a win.

Senior Jackie Williams playing defense against the Le Moyne Dolphins

Some of the basic rules of defense include:

1. Body first, stick second:
In women's lacrosse, it is especially difficult to get away with using your stick. Swinging your stick can lead to penalty shots, which in turn lead to goals. Because of the safety regulations enforced by referees (including crosscheck, illegal check, and more), it is very much encouraged to use your body.  You must train yourself not to approach with the stick, but with your forearm or just sticking with them toe-to-toe. You must break down (knees bent, squared up to opponent, and on your toes) when you play defense and use your stick as a last resort.

Junior Felicia Mills playing textbook body defense
(breaking down: knees bent and squared up). 

2. Always stay between your girl and the goal:
Just having presence alone can deter an opponent from challenging to cage. The most important time to stay between your girl and the goal is during the ride. If your attack turns the ball over, your opponent can fast break down the field (run down with more offensive players than defensive). If you are not hanging back as a defender, you are leaving the opportunity of a fast break with no chance of making body contact.

3. COMMUNICATE!
A huge part of a defensive unit is their communication. There should never be a quiet time on defense. Each defender should be talking to one another, letting each other know where they are and if they need help. This helps keep the unit cohesive with slides (double teaming) or pinching in (making yourself present without committing to a double team).

Juniors Lauren Janelli and Danielle Jaycox double teaming the ball. 

The Adelphi Panthers have a very strong zone defense. A zone defense is when each player is given a "zone" to cover, and a backer is there for the slide. This is why communication is so important because they have to have help when someone overloads a zone. This is an alternative to man-to-man defense, where each defender has one offensive player.

The reason the Panthers use a zone is because with a backer, the person playing defense is able to run at the opponent and either cause a turnover (get the ball back on offense) or cause the opponent to drop the ball.

None of these things are learned over night, defense is something that takes a lot of time and practice. But if you follow these simple steps, you can help your team be a dominant force. 



Photos c/o laxmagazine.com