AACC Women's Lacrosse Continues Strong Tradition

Success is nothing new when it comes to the Anne Arundel Community College women's lacrosse team. The 2011 Pioneers are 13-1 despite a few difficult circumstances that would likely hinder any number of other programs.

Dealing with injuries and a lack of depth and experience, the Pioneers have still continued to deliver and live up to the expectations of their winning program. More often than not, AACC dresses only 12 or 13 players for a game. Most teams carry upwards of 20 players for a sport that fields 10 players on the field at a time.

After rattling off 12 consecutive victories, the AACC women dropped their first contest of the season -- a three-overtime loss to Monroe Community College in New York Sunday. Coach Jim Griffiths isn't worried though. As a matter of fact, he thinks it could be beneficial.

"Nobody is ever happy when you lose, but if there was ever a time where a loss is a valuable tool for teaching, a valuable lesson and the monkey is off your back, this was it," Griffiths said. "The way things played out is for the best."

Expectations can be more of a burden than anything for a younger team, but Griffiths and company have moved on from Sunday's loss. The Pioneers made a quick turnaround, back into the win column, by defeating the Community College of Baltimore County in Essex Monday.

"We've learned from it and we will fix it and come out 10 times stronger," sophomore midfielder Cloey Henchcliffe said. 

Returning only three players from a 14-5 team a year ago, it has been a bit of a surprise to be this successful with a squad that features only three sophomores.

"If you talk to any of us individually, we're underdogs at heart. This is not how we thought this was going to go," sophomore midfielder Erica McMahon said. McMahon, Henchcliffe and freshman teammate Mary Milligan are all tied as the leading goal scorer in the  National Junior College Athletic Association.

These results even have Griffiths somewhat surprised.

"I'll even admit I'm a little surprised. Pleasantly [surprised]," he said.

Then again, AACC is only four years removed from an undefeated national championship.

"Your expectations and your goals at the beginning of the year are always the same. And that's basically to win every game and to win a national championship," Griffiths said.

The odds have appeared to be against the nation's second-ranked team, who finish their regular season on April 27 at Howard Community College.

With a number one ranking all but wrapped up for the playoffs, the Pioneers understand that this success means little and can be gone instantly if they are not careful.

"We realize that each other is all that we have," McMahon said. "[We] leave it all out on that field."

The regional tournament will begin the weekend of May 7 and 8, and with one win the Pioneers will qualify for the national tournament. Should AACC make it that far, they believe their chances are as good as any.

"As far as nationals go, I think that the expectations are endless. I think that if we get there we can't lose," McMahon said.