Ames, lady laxers receive baptism by fire

By DAN GIGLER
Collegian Staff Writer

It's common practice for teams to open their season schedule with lesser opponents, allowing for a refinement of skills before hitting the meat of their schedules. In other words, a handful of sacrificial cupcake teams to tune up on before the facing a challenge.

Not so for the No. 9 Penn State women's lacrosse team.

Rather than scheduling an exhibition series with "Our Lady of the Dumb and Stupid Junior College," the Lady Lions opened their season Tuesday by facing the tour-de-force attack of No. 1 Maryland. For Megan Ames, it was the sophomore goalkeeper's debut as Penn State's top goalie.

Talk about a trial by fire.

The Lions (0-1) and Ames played well but streaky, succumbing to the Terrapins' wealth of speed, talent and finesse, 12-8 at Bigler Field. Ames, who started only a pair of games last season and saw some action in others, was excited but admittedly nervous in facing the nation's top team. It showed as Ames and the Lions got off to an inauspicious start, falling behind 5-0 in the game's opening 10 minutes.

Penn State and Ames buckled down, playing impressive lacrosse for the remainder of the game. Ames tallied 20 saves on the day including several point-blank rejections of Maryland shots, and garnered praise from Terrapins coach Cindy Timchal.

"She was great. Twenty saves -- she really played one hell of a game," Timchal said. "With Ames in goal, (Penn State) ought to enjoy a fine season."

Also taking note was Ames' coach, Julie Williams.

"Was she fantastic?" Williams asked. "Our defense wasn't there the whole time, but Megan was one defender that was in this start to finish."

Ames has had to develop her skill through the preseason without the advice of a goalie coach. Lisa Dixon, who held that position last year, left during the off season for Chapel Hill, N.C., to become an assistant for the No. 2 Tarheels. Not having a position coach has been a disadvantage for Ames, but her teammates have offered her help in sharpening her game.

"The team has been really supportive," Ames said.

Also providing some expertise is last year's starting goalkeeper, Lauren Retzlaff, who graduated in 1998 but now helps the team as a graduate assistant.

"She comes to watch me and see how I'm doing and give me advice," Ames said. "It's good to have someone you know that played your position watching you and helping you out."

Ames' next test in net will come next Monday when the Lions travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on No. 10 Georgetown at Vanderbilt.