The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Erin Odell Freshman M.E. Lapham (right) carries the ball during a game earlier this season. Lapham is second on UConn with 29 goals scored, and third on the team in points, with 37.

While the UConn women's lacrosse team was successful in their attempt to win its home finale Wednesday, the players will face a much tougher task when they visit Notre Dame for their final game of 2009 on Saturday.

The No. 9 team in the nation, the Fighting Irish feature a high-powered offense that has led them to an 11-4 (4-2) record. Having lost an uncharacteristic two games in a row - road games against then-No. 9 Syracuse and No. 12 Vanderbilt - Saturday will be Notre Dame's last opportunity to get back on track before the Big East tournament, which begins next Friday in Washington, D.C.

The Irish are led by captain Jillian Byers, who was recently named among the 25 final nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is annually given to the nation's top female lacrosse player. Byers is currently second in the Big East in goals with 57, which is just four fewer than UConn leading scorers Whitney Michele (32) and M.E. Lapham (29) have combined.

"She's a great player; her numbers speak for themselves," Michele said of Byers. "And they're a very good team. But we haven't gone into a game feeling overmatched all year and we're not going to start in our last one, especially coming off of a win."

In order for the Huskies to have a chance, they will need to find a way to slow down the Irish attack, which has averaged 15.5 goals per game through their first 15 games of the season. To do so, they will rely heavily on the efforts of freshman goaltender Anna Wallingford.

Wallingford is coming off of one of her best performances, allowing only nine of Holy Cross' 21 shots on goal to get past her in the Huskies' third victory of the season.

In order to contain Notre Dame, however, Wallingford is going to need help from the defense in front of her, who must give a similar effort to the one against the Crusaders.

"The defensive intensity has been at its best the past couple of games," Michele said. "Everyone has stepped up their effort, and we need that to continue if we're going to play with Notre Dame. They have some players with really good numbers, but everyone on the team can hurt you."

While Byers is running away with the team lead in goals, her 70 total poins is tied with junior Gina Scioscia, who has 41 goals and a team-high 29 assists. Sophomores Shalyn Blaney and Kailene Abt round out a balanced attack, with 34 and 31 goals respectively.

Despite the great test in front of them, the Huskies head into Saturday's game with an all-or-nothing attitude.

"It's the last game of the season and, for us seniors, it's the last one of our careers," Michele said. "I can speak for the entire team when I say that we're going to leave everything we have out there on field."

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