 |
Amanda
Laws
Yale University #1
Division I
|
 |
|
Name |
Amanda Elizabeth
Laws |
| Year |
Senior |
| School |
Yale University |
| Height |
5'6 |
| Weight |
145 |
| Lacrosse
Number & Why |
1 - it's just
the number they gave me when I got to school! But 1 was my soccer
number when I played.. |
| High
School & Hometown |
Montclair High
School, Montclair NJ |
High
School Achievements
& Recognition |
3 Year Varsity
Letter Winner, All-State 1999, 1998, New Jersey State Team 1999,1998
(placed second at the National Tournament in 1999), All League,
Team MVP, Team Captain Senior year |
|
College Achievements
& Recognition |
Two time Ivy
League Defensive Player of the Week, Played for the New England
team in the National Tournament 2000, 2002 |
| Years
Played Lax |
9 |
| Years
Played Goalie |
7 1/2 |
| Other
Positions |
first home |
| Preferred
Gear |
C-Pro Helmet,
Warrior RPM Pro gloves, STX Eclipse Head with Hard Mesh, STX Custom
Alloy Shaft, White Nike Cross Trainers |
| Favorite
food |
peanut butter
and bacon sandwiches |
| Favorite
cd |
Becca's Life
Soundtrack |
| Favorite
movie |
Rudy |
| |
|
Why do
you play?
I play because I love the game, I love my teammates, and the feeling
of total exhaustion after a hard practice. Lacrosse is fun, and
it challenges me both mentally and physically. |
Why are
you a goalie?
I played goalie in soccer first, and when I got to high school the
lacrosse coach thought I would make a good goalie in lacrosse as
well so they convinced me to give it a try (I wanted to play the
field!) and I ended up falling in love with it. I think there is
just a natural talent and ability that most goalies have that leads
them to the position. |
How important
is the goalie position?
I'd say (though I'm a little bit biased) that the goalie is the
most important position on the field. Besides controlling the defense,
having a large impact on the outcome of the game, and setting the
tone of the team, the goalie is a high profile position - people
notice when you screw up. And for that reason the goalie has to
be a mentally strong person as well as a good ball stopper. |
Any advice
for aspiring goalies?
Just keep your head up no matter what happens. Goalie is a tough
position in all regards. Sometimes you're not playing - there can
only be one goalie playing for each team as opposed to 4 midfielders
- keep trying hard so that maybe next time, it'll be your chance.
Sometimes you'll have an off day and hardly make a save - it's goalies
that can rebound from those situations that come out on top in the
end. You never know what will come your way if you don't stop believing
in yourself. With that said, you have to work harder than everyone
else on the field - goalie is a very special position that requires
a lot of extra work to get better. Find a good goalie coach or someone
who is willing to work with you and challenge you - it makes it
a little bit easier that way - here at Yale I've been lucky to have
a great goalie coach in Laura Field. |
Quote
regarding the goalie position
"Because the demands on a goalie are mostly mental, it means
that for a goalie, the biggest enemy is himself. Not a puck, not
an opponent, not a quirk of size or style. Him. The stress and anxiety
he feels when he plays, the fear of failing, the fear of being embarrassed,
the fear of being physically hurt, all the symptoms of his position,
in constant ebb and flow, but never disappearing. The successful
goalie understands these neuroses, accepts them, and puts them under
control. The unsuccessful goalie is distracted by them, his mind
in knots, his body quickly following." - Ken Dryden, goalie,
Montreal Canadians
"Goaltenders are thought of as goofy guys. Why else would
you willing surrender your body to flying rubber objects that
leave stinging tread marks if they don't otherwise knock you out." |
