Stony Brook women focus on conference

Abby Ford is realistic, but she allows herself to dream along with her women's lacrosse teammates at Stony Brook University.

Ford knows something about comebacks, so it is not impossible for her to imagine Stony Brook, which will host the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship in May, somehow being part of the action. "To play on our own field would be extraordinary," she said. "But we're just trying to focus on the here and now."

The first things first of lacrosse is qualifying for the America East Conference Tournament. "We should definitely be making the tournament this year," said coach Allison Comito, entering her sixth season with a 38-43 record.

Making the tourney would be a huge turnaround from last season's 3-12 finish.

Ford is a big part of that goal, or as Comito said of the junior attacker, "She's huge."

Ford wasn't a lock to be available this season. She suffered a torn ACL in her left knee for the second time in her career and had surgery after last season. "It was scarier the second time," said Ford, who suffered the identical injury before ninth grade. "I heard a pop."

Ford knew the rigorous rehabilitation that was in store. "It's definitely difficult mentally and physically," she said. "It definitely takes a toll on you."

Rehab carried her through all of last summer and into the fall. Finally, she was cleared to play. Her forte is assists; she led the team with 16 in 12 games before her injury.

"When I was little, I wanted to score goals," she said. "As I grew up, it was more behind the net. I think it just grew from everything that I was taught."

Ford's father, Mac, played at North Carolina and her sister, Molly, played for Georgetown.

"It makes me feel better to give an assist than scoring a goal," she said.

Ford has help in the assist department from freshman attack Alyssa Cardillo, who has three goals and eight assists for Stony Brook, which has split its first two games. Melissa Cook, who had 29 goals last season, already has eight. Samantha Djaha, Victoria Cable and Trish Molfetta have four each. Ford has a goal and three assists.

Stony Brook needs to improve defensively - it allowed 12.8 goals a game last year - and senior captain Cori Kennedy and sophomore Justyne Passarelli will be counted on to stabilize the defense.

The women's team has never made the NCAA Tournament. "Our ultimate goal is to get to the America East Tournament and win that before we can think about NCAA," Ford said.

That seems like a realistic start to the dream.