2021 NCAA WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP

May 30, 2021

Asa Goldstock

Syracuse Orange

Media Conference

Boston College - 16, Syracuse - 10

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Syracuse goalie Asa Goldstock.

Q. Let's talk about just the experience playing in this Final Four here in Towson.

ASA GOLDSTOCK: I think that it's something I always wanted. And to get to this game is obviously a dream. And I think it was a hard road to get here. And, you know, just being here, the game against Northwestern, it's awesome, and it's just amazing. And then today, although it's sad and I think that I'm just proud of my teammates and proud just to be here playing in this game.

Obviously right now it really hurts, but obviously a memory I'll remember forever and just grateful to be able to be on this team and compete today.

Q. Is it hard to play somebody four straight times in a season? Because I think it's really tough to play somebody twice. But you played Boston College four times, it's really hard?

ASA GOLDSTOCK: Yeah, I think any team that shows up, they obviously, like us, have gotten better throughout the season. You get to obviously change what you do each time you play them. I can't say that we lost because we played them four times. I think that they were the better team today. And congrats to them. And they played well. But I can't really say that it's because we played them four times. Obviously any team would have given us a good game.

Q. Wondering what it was like for you coming back for one more year with your team and the takeaways you have off the field this year?

ASA GOLDSTOCK: Last year was obviously hard. It happened so fast. The ability to come back, I just wanted to so badly finish what we started. And it was a dream come true to see opportunity in what Coach Gait did for us and for me personally to come back to Syracuse, behind the scenes it was so awesome. Not a lot of people know what he was doing for us, and I'm really appreciative.

But to be able to come back and play for him and my teammates one more time was such a good experience, and I'm just so grateful for it. And I'm grateful for the university and the athletic department and coaching staff just to give me that opportunity.

And this year has been crazy. So many ups and downs. And just to get to this point, I'm so grateful. And I leave here very happy. I just feel so honored to wear this jersey and be on this team.

Q. Tough loss today, but going off your last answer there, can you just talk about, you know, how proud you are of your team being able to make it through COVID without any of you getting sick and kind of the restrictions that you placed on yourselves to get to this point.

ASA GOLDSTOCK: It was obviously a hard year. I think at times just getting the buy-in, we had everyone buying in and wanting to get to this point. So I was so proud of them and my team. And just to get here and fight off all that outside noise. It's very hard. Every team says it, but it really, really, really is hard, this year was very hard, just the ability to see the greater picture, the bigger picture, just to get everyone to see that was difficult.

But we did it. And it was -- obviously it was worth it. But we're just happy we got to play today, and I'm just very happy that everyone just did all they could this year to get to this point.

Q. Obviously this isn't the result you wanted. But you did cement your spot in Syracuse record books with the most saves in a career. Can you take any solace in that today?

ASA GOLDSTOCK: No, I just -- sorry. All I ever wanted was to play lacrosse at Syracuse. And I just leave this place feeling so happy and honored.

And I cemented my place in the record books, but there's nothing I could say. I love this place, and I love playing here and I love playing for my coach and I love wearing my number. And I just love it so much. And I feel so grateful. And I want like the next generation of kids to come to Syracuse to understand like how great it was and how great it is to be there.

I just feel so honored to wear this jersey and be on this team and to have another year to do it. It's really hard, but I'm very grateful. Besides all the numbers, it doesn't mean anything to me, just being on my team.

Q. What did you see from Boston College's attack today, how did you respond to that specifically, Charlotte North?

ASA GOLDSTOCK: They're just feeding from everywhere. And I think they're finishing their shots and they're getting the ball fed in the middle. We tried to change our defense to match up better, match up differently and give them a different look. And we're getting some stops. But we really could never piece it together as a team. And I think that we started to and it was just hard.

We were really trying. They were on today. And kudos to them. They had a good game.