The Daily Campus

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Erik Kong Whitney Michele scored a career high five goals last game.

Through every UConn Lacrosse (1-9, 0-3 Big East) game this season, Whitney Michele has been one of the Huskies' most consistent players and someone head coach Megan Cersosimo has come to rely on game after game.

In addition to leading the team in goals and assists, Michele makes contributions in other areas of the game as well. she is essential in ball movement on offense and getting the team settled when in possession, as she has collected 12 ground balls and won 16 draws.

While her success on the field speaks volumes, Michele also motivates the team through her role as a captain, something unusual for a junior on a team with a handful of seniors.

"I feel it's my job to motivate my teammates everyday and to push everyone so they play their hardest to accomplish one common goal," Michele said.

Michele has tallied four hat triks on the season, and averages 3.8 points per game; her most telling stat however, is her team leading 16 assists. Having both numerous goals and assists shows that Michele is not afraid to take the shot if there's an opportunity, but also knows when to dish the ball to a teammate for an easy goal.

"I like to drive the net hard, let the defense collapse around me, and then dump the ball off to another girl, I love to set up my teammates for goals," Michele said.

Cersosimo sees not only her ability to make great plays, but her ability to lead and motivate as well.

"Whitney leads the team by example, she doesn't just say it, she goes out on the field and does it," Cersosimo said.

Back in Storrs for the first time in nearly a month, Michele tallied seven goals and four assists this weekend. Michele and the entire team were excited to return home for their next four games.

"We haven't been at home in four weeks, it's such a different feeling. Our parents are here and we practice on this same field so it's a great home field advantage," Michele said. "We get more pumped up before our home games and are more successful."

While UConn has had a successful season in terms of development of players and improving through practice and games, the one blemish had been their winless 0-9 record, something they hoped to change this weekend.

"As a team we were ready to let go off the losses, I told the girls that we could only go up from here, we had nothing to lose," said Michele.

After falling to Notre Dame (8-3, 2-1 Big East) despite outscoring them 7-4 in the second-half of Saturday's game, UConn finally succeeded and earned their first win of the season Sunday against the UC Davis Aggies (4-6).

The Huskies' first win came largely due to the success of Michele, who tallied five goals and two assists, also showing excellent field vision when setting up the offense on fast breaks.

As for how it feels to finally get the first win of the season after ten games and nearly a month of struggles,

"It's the most exhilarating feeling in the world," Michele said.



Contact Russell Blair

at Russell.Blair@UConn.edu.

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