Feb. 27, 2008

Teamwork is what makes a team sport challenging, yet if successful can made a sport so rewarding. This is something the Boston University women's lacrosse team portrays in its every move, the ability to put aside individual agendas and go in the same direction.

Led by Coach Liz Robertshaw, the Terriers are the three-time defending America East champions. They begin their regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the University of Massachusetts.

Being a spring sport, the team trains all-year round. Balancing practice, sprints, weights and schoolwork is a tough feat for any student-athlete, yet these women seem to do it with ease.

They have a long winter of training under their belt, and the anticipation is building about the beginning of a new season. The excitement is obvious in Robertshaw. "We practice all fall and pre-season," she said. "It is long, and so when it finally gets here, we are all so excited."

Immense strides have been made to ensure the women perform at their best. The drive and desire to succeed is obvious in this team, as they are often on Nickerson Field in all weather conditions. They take it upon themselves to do extra workouts to be the best they can be, both as individuals and as a team.

"This doesn't come from us," said Robertshaw. "I think that comes from themselves wanting to be prepared, and I am certainly impressed with their work ethic."

Unfortunately, injuries can play a role in any sport, and this is a reality with which the girls have come to terms. "If you have injuries, you are in that training room," said Robertshaw. "The girls have spent serious hours in that training room, getting themselves ready for practice and compete at their full potential".

The Terriers have advanced to the NCAA tournament in the past three seasons, making them one of Boston University's most successful teams. Yet the pressure of being a successful team does not seem to faze the girls. "The girls embrace it, they are excited about being successful and they want to keep that tradition going," said Robertshaw.

"I think it is an honor to be so well-known around here, that we have a certain expectation. That is what I want as a coach."

Success in any given team sport is not possible without true leadership, and this is something co-captains Molly Collins and Lauren Morton display in their ability to bring the girls together and develop a common goal -- a goal to win.

The captains in this team play a huge role. They have gone through the system for their four years of college. "I am very impressed with how these girls have brought the team together and I am very excited to see what they do with the team this year," said Robertshaw.

What is evident in the women's lacrosse team is its ability to put aside personal agendas. In any team sport, there are going to be players who get more playing time than others. "Everyone on the team, no matter how much game time you get, is as important as each other," said Robertshaw.

Additionally within any team there are standout players. Co-captain Collins was named the America East Conference's Most Outstanding Player in the 2007 season, and junior Sarah Dolton was ranked among the Top 20 players in Division I by Inside Lacrosse.

"These girls' successes would not have been made possible without the help of their teammates," said Robertshaw. The ability for the players to unify and develop a team spirit is what has made them so successful.

The women's lacrosse team is an outstanding example of a team with an incredible amount of spirit and desire to succeed. Their work ethic displayed on and off of the field is a true testament to the coaching staff and each and every student-athlete.

Cassie Rhodes is a senior at Boston University and a member of the Terrier women's rowing team. She can be reached at crhodes@bu.edu.