When you’re starting a small business, industry message boards are often the first proof of growing buzz for your product.
George Washington senior defender Molly Gannon has been onWeb sites such as Laxpower.com a bunch, watching intently for comments about the Colonials.
“The lacrosse community isn’t a big one. People talk, and it’s good when they talk about your team,” said Gannon. “I think we’ve made the jump. We can’t say we’re the young team any more. We’re not the underdog. We’re a factor in every game.”
The Colonials (7-5), in just their sixth year of existence, will make the short trek this afternoon down M Street for their first-ever meeting with No. 11 Georgetown (7-6), a vaunted opponent that has been around since 1977.
“We love playing ranked teams because we play up to them, and it gives us a chance to get noticed as well,” said third-year head coach Chrissy Lombard-Adair.
In her first season, George Washington went 13-5, reaching the first round of the Atlantic-10 tournament, but last year the momentum was derailed by five achingly close one-goal losses, including four in overtime, resulting in a disappointing 6-11 mark.
Last weekend’s 7-6 win at Temple — the program’s first-ever win over the Owls — was just the team’s second one-goal game this season, far better for the health of Lombard-Adair, who had hernia surgery in mid-March.
“I’m supposed to be doing anything too stressful — kind of ironic for the job I’m in,” she said.
Despite three consecutive victories, George Washington is just 2-10 versus ranked opponents — the last win was a double-overtime 11-10 triumph over Towson in 2005 — and four of the Hoyas have come against teams ranked in the national Top 5.
Both squads are looking for an extra spark as they aim for the highest seed possible for their respective conference tournaments.
“I think we are back to that level, and we’ve got even more potential [than two years ago],” said Gannon, a Bishop Ireton graduate. “We’re rising past our limitations — we lost in the first round that year — and this year I think we can become major players.
George Washington (7-5) at No. 11 Georgetown (7-6)
When: 3:45 today
» Georgetown senior Coco Stanwick is a two-time Big East offensive player of the week and leads the Hoyas with 41 goals and 19 assists.
» George Washington junior Kristin Karsch, who recently picked up her first Atlantic-10 player of the week honor, leads the Colonials with 32 goals and 12 assists.
