Spring Break
Attitude Making Difference In Three-Game Win Streak
Lacrosse
Mike Northup
Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: Sports
"We did not play as well as we could have [in the Cal game]," Cersosimo said. "Cal is a very, very talented team, but I think it really was the attitude of everyone truly believing that at no point were they ever going to lose this game. They were going to find a way tooth and nail to win this game."
After heading into halftime tied 4-4, California jumped out to an 8-5 lead. However, after that the Huskies turned up the intensity going on a huge run putting the team up 13-9.
"In the second half, Cal had the three goals quickly," Cersosimo said. "I called a timeout and just questioned them like, 'What are you doing out here?' and I think they just totally rallied behind it and said, 'This is what we want to do' and they took anything they could to make it a positive."
Burke continues to prove why she is the Huskies' top scoring threat this season. In the three victories, Burke led the team totaling 12 goals and 14 assists. Her performance over the break earned her the honor of Inside Lacrosse's Player of the Week.
"The best part about Shannon is that not only is she scoring, but she's assisting," Cersosimo said. "She's making herself a very versatile player and a huge threat because [the opposition doesn't] know whether they should defend her for the assist or for her challenge, which is exactly where you want to be. That's where you want to be as an elite lacrosse player."
Cersosimo pointed out that much of Burke's phenomenal play is made possible thanks to her teammates in the attack and midfield stepping up this season to create a perfectly balanced attack.
"The reason why Shannon has been so successful is due to her teammates," Cersosimo said. "All of her teammates are a threat right now. We have a lot of people scoring - Kristin Link, Shannon Burke, Tori Joel, Janet Williams - they're all scoring, so defenders aren't as apt to fly to Shannon to help because they have to worry about their own. Shannon may now throw the ball to another girl and then score. I think it really is a combination of Shannon becoming more versatile, she's opening up her game, and then on top of that her teammates are stepping up and finishing what she can't all the time do. So it's making a defense have to play seven people instead of one or two, which is exactly what you need."
After heading into halftime tied 4-4, California jumped out to an 8-5 lead. However, after that the Huskies turned up the intensity going on a huge run putting the team up 13-9.
"In the second half, Cal had the three goals quickly," Cersosimo said. "I called a timeout and just questioned them like, 'What are you doing out here?' and I think they just totally rallied behind it and said, 'This is what we want to do' and they took anything they could to make it a positive."
Burke continues to prove why she is the Huskies' top scoring threat this season. In the three victories, Burke led the team totaling 12 goals and 14 assists. Her performance over the break earned her the honor of Inside Lacrosse's Player of the Week.
"The best part about Shannon is that not only is she scoring, but she's assisting," Cersosimo said. "She's making herself a very versatile player and a huge threat because [the opposition doesn't] know whether they should defend her for the assist or for her challenge, which is exactly where you want to be. That's where you want to be as an elite lacrosse player."
Cersosimo pointed out that much of Burke's phenomenal play is made possible thanks to her teammates in the attack and midfield stepping up this season to create a perfectly balanced attack.
"The reason why Shannon has been so successful is due to her teammates," Cersosimo said. "All of her teammates are a threat right now. We have a lot of people scoring - Kristin Link, Shannon Burke, Tori Joel, Janet Williams - they're all scoring, so defenders aren't as apt to fly to Shannon to help because they have to worry about their own. Shannon may now throw the ball to another girl and then score. I think it really is a combination of Shannon becoming more versatile, she's opening up her game, and then on top of that her teammates are stepping up and finishing what she can't all the time do. So it's making a defense have to play seven people instead of one or two, which is exactly what you need."
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