Head Coach Gary Gait Quotes
Syracuse vs. Canisius
February 24, 2008
February 24, 2008
On what he has seen in the offense so far:
"They have been playing focused and have been well prepared. We have had a long preseason and we have been working on a lot of different concepts and different skills and it is just a job to watch them go out there and execute them. What we are seeing is a result of a lot of hard work. We have a long way to go but it is a great start."
"They have been playing focused and have been well prepared. We have had a long preseason and we have been working on a lot of different concepts and different skills and it is just a job to watch them go out there and execute them. What we are seeing is a result of a lot of hard work. We have a long way to go but it is a great start."
On unique shot selection:
"We are encouraging them to fully develop, be the best that they can be and that means taking chances and taking risks in everything they do so that they can become better decision makers and better players."
"We are encouraging them to fully develop, be the best that they can be and that means taking chances and taking risks in everything they do so that they can become better decision makers and better players."
On the game:
"It was an exceptional half. I thought that it was fun to watch on my end as a coach, to watch them execute. Especially the defense, that has been one of our focus points this year and they stepped up and they had an unbelievable first half."
"It was an exceptional half. I thought that it was fun to watch on my end as a coach, to watch them execute. Especially the defense, that has been one of our focus points this year and they stepped up and they had an unbelievable first half."
On things to work on:
"It’s always all the little things that can be improved, like turnovers. I thought we did a much better job today on clearing the ball than they did earlier in the week and we will continue to work on our percentages and our decision-making process. That’s what we continue to build on and then we’ll get a little more creative and have different options so that’s what we are working on."
"It’s always all the little things that can be improved, like turnovers. I thought we did a much better job today on clearing the ball than they did earlier in the week and we will continue to work on our percentages and our decision-making process. That’s what we continue to build on and then we’ll get a little more creative and have different options so that’s what we are working on."
On things about the team people may not know:
"They are very poised, very focused. They are ready to play every game and they are off to a great start. It is everything we could ask for at this point."
"They are very poised, very focused. They are ready to play every game and they are off to a great start. It is everything we could ask for at this point."
On whether he expected the team to play this well against a ranked opponent:
"It was a pleasant surprise. I just expect them to tie their shoes up, get on the field and give it everything they have and try and work within the systems we’ve put in place. That is what they did and the result was outstanding."
"It was a pleasant surprise. I just expect them to tie their shoes up, get on the field and give it everything they have and try and work within the systems we’ve put in place. That is what they did and the result was outstanding."
On the defense:
"We have been working a lot on defense from the fall on through the preseason. I certainly understand the defense is key. Our players are buying into our defensive systems and we have had great success. I think our starting group held them to one goa. It was awesome."
"We have been working a lot on defense from the fall on through the preseason. I certainly understand the defense is key. Our players are buying into our defensive systems and we have had great success. I think our starting group held them to one goa. It was awesome."
On Liz Hogan being worked into certain offensive plays:
"She has the green light to hit anybody open whether they are all the way down at the other end of the field or right beside her. I have confidence in her as a freshman, and right now, she is making great decisions so she will continue to build on that and gain confidence and just become a better goalie every week."
"She has the green light to hit anybody open whether they are all the way down at the other end of the field or right beside her. I have confidence in her as a freshman, and right now, she is making great decisions so she will continue to build on that and gain confidence and just become a better goalie every week."
On Liz Hogan’s 60-plus-yard clear:
"That was a long clear. She has some great stick skills and she showed it there. It was right on the money. When you have a goalie that has that ability, it makes every one play honest when they are riding us so it is great. "
"That was a long clear. She has some great stick skills and she showed it there. It was right on the money. When you have a goalie that has that ability, it makes every one play honest when they are riding us so it is great. "
On Kristin Brady’s backhanded goal:
"They have all been working on a lot of different things and she is just playing hard, working on everything. We focus on every part of the game and every type of shot. As they get more comfortable you will see more of those types of things happen in a game."
"They have all been working on a lot of different things and she is just playing hard, working on everything. We focus on every part of the game and every type of shot. As they get more comfortable you will see more of those types of things happen in a game."
On seeing his personal touches throughout the game:
"We are just looking to improve our skills and make passes and to become a better team on offense. Not just dodging but to be able to put in two or three passes and hit a quick stick. That is the type of thing that shows teamwork and the skills that are necessary to do that."
"We are just looking to improve our skills and make passes and to become a better team on offense. Not just dodging but to be able to put in two or three passes and hit a quick stick. That is the type of thing that shows teamwork and the skills that are necessary to do that."
On last year’s Dartmouth game (11-10 Dartmouth win):
"I saw it on tape a whole lot. They were just ready to go from the start and they stepped in, controlled the draws and executed well on offense and built confidence throughout the game and felt good about it. They really got Dartmouth with their back up against the wall and they got tight and continued to make mistakes which allowed us to go on a run."
"I saw it on tape a whole lot. They were just ready to go from the start and they stepped in, controlled the draws and executed well on offense and built confidence throughout the game and felt good about it. They really got Dartmouth with their back up against the wall and they got tight and continued to make mistakes which allowed us to go on a run."
On having three different players with five points:
"We are very good offensively and we knew that coming in. They are all doing their jobs and Awehiyo (Thomas) stepped up and scored a bunch today. I thought it was good that it gets mixed around and certain players can step in when they have opportunities. That is when you are a total team. They may shut off certain players but other players step up and that is what we are looking for."
"We are very good offensively and we knew that coming in. They are all doing their jobs and Awehiyo (Thomas) stepped up and scored a bunch today. I thought it was good that it gets mixed around and certain players can step in when they have opportunities. That is when you are a total team. They may shut off certain players but other players step up and that is what we are looking for."
On Liz Hogan:
"She was just outstanding, it was awesome to watch. She shut the door in the first half and made seven saves. That just helped build her confidence and helped build the defense’s confidence. She is a true freshman that is starting to play like a veteran. We just have to continue building. We’ll have a real challenge this week against Virginia so that will be a real measuring stick for us."
"She was just outstanding, it was awesome to watch. She shut the door in the first half and made seven saves. That just helped build her confidence and helped build the defense’s confidence. She is a true freshman that is starting to play like a veteran. We just have to continue building. We’ll have a real challenge this week against Virginia so that will be a real measuring stick for us."
On playing at Virginia:
"We feel good. We have had two very good games. We just have to stay focused and prepared. We are going against the No. 2 team in the country and it isn’t going to be as easy as it has been. That is for sure. "
"We feel good. We have had two very good games. We just have to stay focused and prepared. We are going against the No. 2 team in the country and it isn’t going to be as easy as it has been. That is for sure. "
