2021 NCAA WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP

May 30, 2021

Gary Gait

Syracuse Orange

Media Conference

Boston College - 16, Syracuse - 10

THE MODERATOR: Coach, an opening statement.

COACH GAIT: We did everything we could. I thought we prepared pretty well. And we knew they were a very good offense that really could put the ball in the back of the net.

And I think for a while we were in the game, and unfortunately I think our offense kind of sputtered when we went down a player. And that really made the difference. It was tough to rebound from the depth. We just came up a little bit short on the O end.

And then we unfortunately got a little bit in the situation where we're pressing it and trying to score, and unfortunately that meant taking some bad decisions on their feeding and shooting.

And the result is what it was. A 16-10 loss. It's been an incredible year, though. And amazing to have players step up and do what they did when Preseason Player of the Year Emily Hawryschuk goes down and then Meg Carney goes down and we still manage to get ourselves to the championship game, give ourselves an opportunity.

So super proud of our coaching staff, all the players, all our support staff and everybody that's helped to get us through this crazy year of COVID and testing and isolation and no meals together, no locker rooms. It's been an amazing year. But it's behind us now and we'll regroup and come back next year ready to play.

Q. My question was about when Emma went out, after the second yellow card in the second half, what was the conversation you had with the team about who was that next woman up, that's something that's been kind of a tale-tale of your whole season, the next woman up mentality?

COACH GAIT: We went with a couple of freshman in Maddy Baxter and Jen Markey, right-handed players, we needed a righty, and they'd been playing pretty well. So just asked them to step in there and try and fill that role.

Emma, the way she's been playing, she was tough to replace. And a little bit too much to replace, obviously. But it was tough, but we fought. We didn't quit. And played until the end.

Q. You sort of talked about this in your opening statement. You guys had a lot of adversity throughout this entire season. Can you name one thing that you're going to remember most fondly from this historic team?

COACH GAIT: Yeah, I think it's the chemistry. The way these players came together, supported each other, raised the level of play and created confidence amongst everybody on the team. No matter what happened to us this year, they believed they could win, win any game and win a national championship.

So I hope they bring that same belief and confidence back next year. And I know they will.

Q. I know this is still fresh and really looking ahead to next season, but is it kind of bittersweet knowing that you'll have Emily Hawryschuk and Megan Carney and Meaghan Tyrrell come back next season, but you're also losing some key pieces in like Ella Simkins and Asa Goldstock?

COACH GAIT: Yeah, every year you lose players, and you move on. I think we're in pretty good shape to replace some of those players. You never fully replace them. They were incredible players, but at least some other kids will get opportunities to try and step up and play like they did.

So we'll wait and see next year how that plays out. But those kids are key losses, and we love them and we're going to miss them.

Q. How much did Emma's two yellow cards and then playing on three yellow cards really for the most of the game affect the mindset how you guys came out and performed?

COACH GAIT: You know, it just was tough. It was a tough day on the field. We couldn't catch many breaks, and we didn't. Certainly not in the second half. And it just provided opportunities the other way.

So I think what if, there's a lot of what ifs, and if that didn't happen or this or that, we got more calls, whatever it was, but you can't talk about that because that's not what happened. So you've just got to move on and I will.

Q. After the game I saw you had an embrace with Acacia Walker there. Perhaps nobody understands being on the other end of this thing as much as she does. What was said and how do you feel for her in this particular moment?

COACH GAIT: I'm super happy for her. Her and Kayla Traenor, Jen, her staff, they did an amazing job. And certainly love what she's done with the program, and she's an amazing young coach. And I just congratulated her and wished her the best and said it was an amazing game and thanked her for being such an important person in the game of lacrosse.

Q. Asa Goldstock becoming the all-time saves leader at Syracuse, talk about her impact during her time on the hill.

COACH GAIT: She's a two-year captain, amazing person, incredible leadership, and the heart and soul of a very good defense.

And that's probably going to be the biggest loss, is the leadership that she brings to this team. And her and the other captains really got us through this year. It was tough. We watched other teams miss out on games because of COVID and things like that.

But we stuck to our rules and our guidelines and made sure that we had a chance, and a lot of that was due to the captain's leadership led by Asa. So a huge part of this program to get us to where we were today.