US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.
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No. 18 Colorado
2018 Record: 14-6 (9-1 Pac-12)
Coach: Ann Elliott Whidden (6th year)
All-Time Record: 65-30
NCAA Appearances: 2
Final Fours: 0
Championships: 0
During the 2018 season, Colorado experienced both highs and lows on and off the field that affected their mentality, but their ability to bounce back was also evident.
In one of their toughest years, playing for passed teammate Julia Sarcona, the Buffs went on to win the inaugural Pac-12 regular season crown, but then dropped the tournament title to Stanford on their home turf. A week later, they dominated Jacksonville in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but then fell to Florida for the second time that year.
“Whether it’s good or bad, things are always related,” said Colorado coach Ann Elliott Whidden. “This team really showed that resilience and ability to compete to win that first regular season in the Pac-12.
“Going into the Pac-12 tournament, we were excited and looking forward to it, and we thought things would go a different way, but didn’t,” she continued. “It created a bit of a chip on our shoulder heading into this season, just knowing we had that chance at home and we kind of blew it.”
This season, however, brings a “different” vibe, she said. While the Buffs of 2018 could rely on its biggest stars, namely attacker and draw specialist Darby Kiernan and conference defender of the year Sarah Brown, the Buffs of 2019 need to focus on being a scrappier team that controls the 50-50 balls.
“Hopefully, we’ve always been a little bit scrappy, but this year’s team is really going to be about the whole,” Elliott Whidden said. “I think this team understands it’s going to take everybody that’s on the field. There’s not going to be one player that’s going to make the play and win us the game or win us the championship.”
Against Stanford in the Pac-12 final, Kiernan had nine of the team’s 12 draw controls, while Brown snagged two. Against Florida in the NCAAs, the dynamic duo combined for 11 of 14 draw controls. Statistically, Brown and Kiernan essentially carried the team into the postseason, topping the charts in nearly every valued category. Brown led in caused turnovers and ground balls, while Kiernan dominated in draw controls, points, goals and assists.
Moving into the center field, a key trio – Kiernan (159 draw controls), Brown (81) and defender Kelsie Garrison (32), all of whom graduated – was the glue in transition. The next closest mark was just five draw controls each from Miranda Stinson and Devon Bayer, who are now a senior and sophomore, respectively.
Offensively, Colorado also lost their fourth-leading attacker Carly Cox.
“We’ll miss them in all facets,” Elliott Whidden said. “A player like Darby, you miss a lot. She really was key for us with draw controls, being steady with that position. You knew what you were going to get every game from her.
“Carly Cox was another huge attacker we lost ... [and Brown and Garrison] leave a bigger hole than probably people would think,” she continued. “We obviously miss those four people who started and were consistent for us, but at the same time, that’s why I say this team is different. Our mentality defensively is a whole team. Not that we didn’t have that before, but when you have solid one-on-one defenders you can leave them to do their thing.”
While there are more unknowns this year than in seasons past, Colorado still is remaining optimistic, using that chip to fuel their path to the playoffs.
“That’s the mentality of this group,” Elliott Whidden said. “They’re very committed to every day getting better. … To be successful and where we want to be at the end of the year as much as April matters, February matters and every game we play matters when it comes down to the [NCAA] selection.”