Syracuse Post-Game Quotes (March 8, 2008)
Gary Gait, Head Coach
What was the difference between the first half and the second half? What did you say at halftime to the team?
"We had a good first 10 minutes of the game. We were ready to play. Then we had a lapse in the middle of the first half and that was tough. In the first half we struggled defensively and had a lot of turnovers in our clears. That is uncharacteristic for us in our clears. We are usually a lot better than that. It was really just a lack of focus. We got together at halftime and talked about it and worked on what we needed to work on and came out and dominated the draw controls and that was a big difference. "
How happy were you with the way the team responded in the second half?
"I was very happy with the way they responded. I challenged them in the lockerroom. I asked them if they were happy with the first half. Of course, they were not happy. I told them they were lucky they had a second half to go make a difference and they did. The defense played much better in the second half. They helped (each other), they caused some turnovers without taking wild swings. It was the way you need to play."
To what do you attribute the problem in the first half?
"I think we started sharp. It was just a mental lapse. Those are going to happen. It is how you respond to those mental lapses that is the key. They came out strong in the second half. They were prepared and ready to go. That is what we need to do if we struggle in the first half."
Does anything with (goalie) Liz Hogan’s play concern you at times?
"I think when our defense plays well, she plays well. She is a young goalie and she is going to get better. No question. She has a great stick and I think she was forcing it a bit today with clearing the ball rather than just taking her time and making the easy pass."
How about the trio of Rowan, Quillinan and Dove and their performance today?
"They stepped it up when they had to and that was the key. It was a long game for them, playing offense and defense. They did everything we asked of them, especially in the second half. They really took control. That is what everybody is expecting of them. They performed today."
Katie Rowan
Can you talk about the offense that the team played today?
"We are really trying to attack it. In the first half we were only up two so in the second half we really wanted to come out and attack the defense and go to goal."
You started the second half on a 9-0 run. A lot of that really seemed to be ball control and draw control. Did coach talk with you about those things at halftime?
"Yes. That was our main focus. We really wanted possession of the ball so we could push it and score. We got fired up in the lockerroom and really wanted to in the first 10 minutes of the second half put them in a hole."
How rewarding is it to come out and re-establish yourselves and control the second half?
"It shows that we don’t give up and that we will keep pushing it. We knew that we had a rough first half. We knew what we needed to work on and we fixed those things."
Notre Dame is next. Are you ready for that?
"It is our first BIG EAST game and that is always big."
How did you feel that their defense was attacking you and the offense?
"We have seven attackers who can score. Everyone is a threat. If you try to shut off one of us, there are six others who can score."
Bridget Hamm
You only gave up two goals in the second half. What was the key to turning it around?
"I think after the first half we knew we had to be more mentally focused and clean up a few things."
Did you talk about that at halftime?
"Yes. We all knew in the first half that we were a little tense and we knew we need to calm down and be more mentally focused."
Without Bridget (Looney) do you feel like you have to step up for her defensively?
"Bridget is the heart of our team so losing her we know that everybody has to do a little bit more."
