Borbee Participated in Web Chat
Garnet head coach Karen Borbee participated in the Conference's first-ever preseason chat on CoveritLive last week and then answered additional questions about the upcoming season.
The Garnet women finished 2008 with a thrilling 17-16 overtime victory over rival Haverford. Swarthmore returns seven seniors to the 2009 team, including All-Region defender Melissa Grigsby '09 and leading scorer Amy Vachal '11 (team-high 39 goals as a freshman.
On Thursday, February 19 all 10 Centennial head women's lacrosse coaches took time out of thier busy schedules and participated in the chat, answering a few questions pertaining to the upcoming season. For all those fans who missed the live chat it can be found on the Centennial Conference blog at http://centennialconference.blogspot.com/2009/02/womens-lacrosse-coaches-chat.html.
CoveritLive is an online real-time system exclusively for Question & Answer sessions aiding sports coverage whether you are covering the playoffs, draft-picks, semi-finals, international sports or a local game. CoveritLive has been used by thousands of writers and bloggers to provide coverage across all sports, including basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hockey, cricket, golf, chess, wrestling and racing. CoveritLive is experienced with ‘multi-thousand reader' live blogs taking place over long periods (10 consecutive hours) of time, making it an excellent and reliable tool for all day sporting events.
Following the chat coach Borbee (pictured above) sat down with Swarthmore's Sports Information Assistant, Lucy Foerster to answer additional questions about the upcoming season.
Q: With the tough Centennial Conference schedule, how do see the Garnet contending for a playoff spot?
A: Our goal at this point is working towards becoming the best team we can be. If we stick to that, we will be competitive in the conference. Our goal this year is reaching the playoffs.
Q: With a large class of (seven) seniors how do you feel their veteran status will show on the field?
A: The seniors have done an outstanding job this year of motivating and preparing the team for the start of the season. They have been great leaders, both on and off the field. They are all very different and all bring unique qualities to the team.
Q: With so many veteran players and just a handful of first years how do you feel they are meshing/ mixing in the preseason?
A: We actually have the same number of seniors as first years. This gives our team a great balance. We have a great deal of game experience mixed with new talent. I think having such a veteran team takes a lot of the pressure off of the young players. It's a good overall situation.
Q: As you have seen the team work together in preseason, what are their strengths and what obstacles to you hope they can leap over during the season?
A: Our strength right now is our focus at practices. Everyone is working hard and pushing each other. They have come into the season in shape and ready to play hard. What we need to learn to do is to play well together. Everyone wants to play well individually but to be a good team we have to play well together.
Q: What are some of the skills your team has been working to perfect in the off season?
A: The off season is all about stickwork and fitness. Both have been main objectives and the team has improved both during the off season..
Q: Who will be the toughest offense you will have to deal with this season?
A: Gettysburg, F&M, and Dickinson all have very potent offenses. But everyone in the Centennial has the ability to score many goals. We are working very hard on our team defense right now and plan to bring a few new looks on the defensive side of the field.
Q: Any newcomers your fans should keep an eye on?
A: The first years are doing really well and fitting into the flow of the team. I expect a number of them to help us immediately on both offense and defense.
Q: You have said that you might start some of your freshman, how do you think they will deal with the pressure of starting in their first college games?
A: If they do win a starting position, they will deal with the pressure very well. That will be one of the considerations when deciding whether or not to start a first year.
Q: Will any of your freshman make an immediate impact like leading scorer Amy Vachal did in her freshman debut?
A: You just never know - it wouldn't surprise me.
Q: Last season Vachal was your leading scorer, who will be here supporting cast this season since you lost Alex Gilbert-Bono?
A: I expect Marissa Shaffer to take control of the offense, Kelsey Hatzell to lead in the Midfield, and Melissa Grigsby to take control on the defense.
Q: What are some of your hopes for Vachal leading your offense?
A: Amy can do so many things for us. If scoring is what's needed I think she will step up again. But she can also help us in transition with her speed and on the defensive side as well.
Q: You only have one goalie this season, how will her transition from being a back-up goalie to her seeing every shot in practice and in your games?
A: Ally is ready to go, she was capable of playing last season. She has patiently waited her turn and is ready to go. Having only one goalie is tough but Jean Dahlquist will be our back-up goalie this season.
Q: Melissa Grigsby is one of your top returning defenders, how do you see her making an impact on the team this season?
A: Melissa is a leader on defense and brings an intensity to practice every day. She will be the one we look to match up with the opposing teams top attacker and also be a verbal leader in our team defense dynamic.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season? What is your team’s biggest challenge?
A: Our biggest challenge this season will be to bring our best game every game and for both halves of each game. We can't lose focus against the strong CC teams and hope to make it up later. We have to be ready to play from the first second and keep it going until the last second. If we can do that we will have a successful season.
Borbee and the Garnet women open the 2009 slate versus Moravian at the Tri-Co Invitational, hosted by Haverford College this year. Swarthmore will make its Clothier Field debut on March 19 when Immaculata comes to campus for a 7:00 p.m. contest.