Coach Amanda O’Leary used an unusual tactic against Penn State on Sunday, pulling her goalkeeper for an extra defender.
“When we pulled Mikey (Meagher), that was a desperation move,” O’Leary said, “And it was necessary at that time.”
After scoring a goal at the 18:29 mark to take an 11-10 advantage, Penn State won a draw control and maintained possession for the next 8 minutes, methodically passing the ball around the field.
“At that point, it’s do anything you can to get the ball back,” senior defender Sam Farrell said.
Though Penn State scored five goals on the empty net in its 16-11 victory, the move was necessary because of a stalling tactic by the Nittany Lions.
The defense tried to press the Lions by double-teaming them and forcing a mistake, but when that didn’t work, the Gators did all they could do — cause a turnover or foul them.
This led to 15 fouls in the last 18 minutes.
To end the eight-minute stall, junior defender Krista Grabher fouled a PSU attacker in the 8-meter circle to force a free-position shot.
“I don't know how intentional that was,” O’Leary said, “But we do want them to shoot to get the ball back.”
The Gators controlled the ball for roughly 2 minutes out of the last 18:29 on the clock.
“Stalling is a huge problem in women's lacrosse because it doesn't allow scores to tell it all,” said senior attacker Kitty Cullen, who scored a goal in those 2 minutes. “It was a lot closer game than the score showed.”
As an attacker, Cullen has to wait behind the defensive third line until her team gets the ball back. She said that she wants to be able to help her team in those situations, but all she can do is cheer them on.
“It’s definitely a helpless feeling,” Cullen said.
With tough American Lacrosse Conference matchups coming up like No. 17 John Hopkins on Saturday, No. 3 Florida (13-1, 1-1) will have to learn how to stop these stalling techniques, because it is a tactic this team will face the rest of the season and in post-season play.
“If a team gets up on us from here on out, they will stall as long as they can and treasure those possessions and really milk the time off the clock,” Farrell said. “We just have to figure out how to stop it.”
Mikey Meagher (5) defends a goal against Northwestern on May 5, 2012. Coach Amanda O'Leary pulled Meagher in the second half of Florida's loss to Penn State to give the Gators an extra defender.
