Tribe Lax Preview: Interview With Coach Halfpenny

02/13/08 3:00PM

Williamsburg - TribeAthletics.com continues its preview of the 2008 Tribe Lacrosse season today with an interview with second-year head coach Christine Halfpenny. Earlier this week, the 2008 season outlook was posted online, and yesterday the 2008 Tribe Lacrosse media guide was released online as well.

Tomorrow be sure to check back for interviews with selected players and more pictures from spring practice will be available later in the week as well. The Tribe opens the 2008 campaign on Sunday at home against Binghamton at Albert-Daly Field. The opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Interview with head coach Christine Halfpenny:

With the 2008 season-opener now just a couple days away, how would you assess the progress of the team through spring preseason practice up to this point?

“We hit the ground running in spring practice. The staff has been incredibly pleased with where we are at this point in the preseason. We’ve really seen the team come together, and I think the Australia trip certainly helped with that and our bonding.

But, more importantly, I think our individual skill sets have come a long way since the fall. I’m very excited about our progress, and I’m anxious to see how we put it all together on Sunday.”

Has anything stood out, or have you seen anything specific during the preseason that has you particularly excited?

“From our rookies, all the way up to our returning seniors, we are excited about the new look of this team and the beginning of the season. We have been impressed with the challenging and battling for starting positions this past week. I think there has been a healthy balance of good competition and motivation between the team members.”

Coming off of last season, and after going through such a long offseason, which included the trip to Australia, and really the start of practice back in August, is it almost a relief now for the 2008 season to be here?

“Obviously, we’re a long way from seeing what the outcome of the season will be, but we do know it will be a tough schedule once again featuring a number of ranked opponents. We have a very young team, but we feel good about the group. We have depth on the defensive end right through the midfield, and I think we have a good number of scoring threats on offense. I think overall, we’re excited to finally see what this team can do.”

You mentioned having a young team, and it certainly will be with 15 underclassman including eight freshman, one redshirt freshman and five sophomores. It’s probably safe to say they will have a big impact from the start.

“We plan on having a lot of rookies on the field this season, and I think that is another exciting aspect. With youth comes a little bit of naive bliss. I think this class of freshmen has a certain swagger about them, and as a group they’re ready to take the field. We’re going to see the new era of Tribe Lacrosse on Sunday.

So along with the younger group, the depth and a tough schedule, what else can we expect to see this spring?

“We’re going to have some new looks this year. I think we’ll definitely have a few surprises. As a staff, we’re excited to see all the hard work this group has put in, which started back in August, pay off at this point. We had a long offseason, but I think some of the great traits of this team have been its ability to stay positive, continue to work hard and be goal oriented through the difficulties and challenges that every preseason brings. I know it will help us get through a very challenging non-conference schedule and then a very competitive conference schedule.