May 15, 2008

by Craig Muder, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

CLINTON, N.Y. -Patty Kloidt figures Hamilton College's journey to the final four began about 19 months ago, just as fall was descending on this picturesque school in Central New York.

"We had a big conversation in October 2006 where I asked them just what they wanted out of the program," said Kloidt, the Continentals' sixth-year head coach. "Did they want to be league runnerups? Or did they want to be league champions and go to the NCAAs? At that point, they decided to hold each other accountable. And that's when it all changed."

The resulting two-year stretch has been a memorable one for the Continentals, who face top-ranked Salisbury at 11:30 Saturday morning in a Division III semifinal game in Salem, Va. Hamilton advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last year, then bettered that this spring with the first trip to an NCAA final four in any sport for a school best known for academics.

Kloidt says the improvement resulted from a basic adjustment in attitude.

"They've agreed to be brutally honest with each other, which is very difficult for women and girls because they're so afraid to ruin relationships," Kloidt said. "But this team is special because they know their relationship is strong. They can yell at each other in practice and then goof around on the way to dinner.

"They've learned how to resolve their own issues."

Surprisingly, the majority of the Continentals are freshmen and sophomores - though Hamilton's five seniors and five juniors clearly form the heart of the team. Junior midfielder Kaillie Briscoe, whose 101 points this year (62 goals, 39 assists) represent a team record, said Hamilton's success comes down to a single issue: Trust.

"I've been on a lot of girls' teams in my life, but this team has a chemistry like I've never felt," said Briscoe, who grew up playing boys' box lacrosse in Orangeville, Ontario. "It's a great feeling when you know there are 20 other girls who would die for you."

The Continentals have blitzed through the season to date, winning 19 of 20 games - their only loss coming against defending Division III champion Franklin and Marshall. Only three teams have managed to score at least 10 goals against the Continentals, and Hamilton has been held to single digits just once.

The Continentals will have to overcome the loss of sophomore attack Audrey Nebergall, who injured her knee in warmups before Sunday's 9-7 win over Middlebury and is not expected to play again this season. Nebergall's 32 goals rank sixth on the Continentals, but Briscoe said Nebergall's reaction to her injury propelled Hamilton past the Panthers and into the final four.

"She was right there with us on the field, even though she couldn't do anything," Briscoe said. "Her support was so contagious that it became imperative for us to win.

"I don't really think it's possible for us to get down at this point. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that we're capable of winning this."

Kloidt has done her best to keep her team focused on short-term goals, and between practice and this week's final exams the Continentals haven't had much time for national championship day dreams.

Still, after almost two years of laughing, crying and struggling, the final challenge is at hand.

"We want to laugh, keep loving each other and fight through adversity," Kloidt said. "We do that on the field, and we do it off the field.

"If we keep it up, if we just have fun with every day and every moment that comes with it, there's nothing this team can't accomplish."