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Princeton University Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Trip Diary #4
January 05, 2005 | Women's Lacrosse
Jan. 5, 2005
We woke up early to prepare for our 10 a.m match against the Australina National Team. After a tough game the day before, we were determined not to be distracted by the many areas in which Australia had demonstrated their higher level experience.
We narrowed our focus to three main points: offensive fluidity, slowing down their rapid transition and crease defense. (Both the crease and the arc are about 2-3 meters larger, which proved challenging to the motion of our defensive unit.) While we improved greatly in these areas of focus, the Australians once again demonstrated a strength, speed and tenacity that we had yet to control. The final score was 17-6 Australia.
However, we rapidly moved away from the competitive seriousness of the game when we entered into the Game Park where Jeremy, our guide, promised we would come into very close contact with Australia's most famous species, the koala.
A large group dashed for the koala "close contact" section of the park where they not only fed, but actually held, an 11-kilogram koala named Narumbi for a photograph. While most were overwhelmed with the friendliness of the koala, one individual, who will remain anonymous, was outrightly rejected; Narumbi struggled to escape from her arms. It was captured on camera. The more adventurous managed to conquer the guilt that comes with feeding and petting what was marinated on our plates only two nights before. They wandered out into the park to feed and pet the kangaroos, whose Achilles' heels turned out to be tremendously long. Others went in search of the Tasmanian devil or the emu, an somewhat more unattractive ostrich-look-alike. Exhausted, but terribly excited, we boarded the bus after some two hours to return to Adelaide Shores for dinner.
Later that evening, most of the group wandered into town to see Ocean's Twelve. The review given by one of our many adult leaders in an exclusive interview was, "the eye candy was delicious, though the story lacked some of the original pizzazz." Bedtime was early. The next day was our final matchup against the Australians, who had proved to be anything but a predictable opponent.
After two tough, physical games, we knew that if we were to compete we would have to slow and control their rapid transition. We would also need a fluid, mobile and deceptive attack to slice up their zone defense. Our defense would have to be more aggressive, more agile and more unified than we had been all year. However, more than anything, we knew that we would need to assimilate the intensity, tenacity, endurance and urgency of the Australians on the field. Chris told us this was a game we could win.
An hour-and-a-half later, in a game in which the intensity of the competition was reminiscent of last year's national championship game, the score was 9-8 Australia. In the final three minutes, two Princeton shots bounced off the post and defense remained solidly defiant in the face of Australia's final attack. It had been an even fight, one which Chris told us would be won in the future. Her most important statement, however, reminded us to hold onto the level of competition we had experienced and the feeling that we could compete with one of the best teams in the world.
After cleaning up, (meaning brushing back our hair and changing out of our jerseys), we headed up to the banquet held by the local government to honor the international competitions that had occurred throughout the week. Team Koala, Dartmouth, the Australian National Team and Princeton all enjoyed a tremendous buffet in honor of our hard play.
Back on the bus, we toured Adelaide beforing heading back to our units for a little pre-dinner pool time. While many napped and soaked in the sun, an unnamed group adapted the infamous bus karaoke ordeal to include many more members, meaning many more loud, off-tune singers with no idea of the real words.
For dinner we headed into Adelaide to explore the town for the first time. Somewhat later, the Australian team met up with us to show us a night on the town.
At last, it was our final day in Australia. How did we conclude such a tremendous and exciting trip? Thirty beach towels stretched in a line, books scattered, toes in the water, sunscreen (mysteriously reduced in SPF from the promised and mandated 45) were crucial aspects of our final day. We spent it at the beach--enjoying the sun, working on our tans and wading (knee deep only) into the water. It was a beautiful last day.
Mid-afternoon, somewhat sunstroked and sunburnt, we headed back into town for an afternoon of shopping and our final dinner. We ate overlooking the water. With many options, a good group chose to enjoy kangaroo again as their final Australian meal. We concluded the night with our annual gift exchange out on the lawn, an attempt to remind ourselves of the holiday season that was not so apparent in the 80-degree heat and palm trees. Highlight gifts included a J-Crew wallet, a stuffed koala, shell jewelry and a shirt signed by no other than Jeremy himself.
It has been quite a trip, maybe our pictures will be able to better explain.