Cassie Diplock knew she’d be an impact player for the St. Joseph’s College women’s lacrosse team this season.
After all, the Augusta native said, she finally felt comfortable after the bulk of her freshman season adjusting the collegiate game.
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But 49 goals in just 11 games played?
“I didn’t expect that,” acknowledged Diplock, a 5-foot-6 sophomore attacker. “I try to use my speed to my advantage, but I don’t know if I expected to score this many goals.”
Neither did third-year St. Joseph’s coach Anna Gordon.
“She’s having a standout year, no doubt about it,” she said. “She’s putting a lot of points on the board. People are taking notice. She’s a game-changer. She’s always been really quick, but this year she is the whole package. I certainly expected her to score this season, but when I looked at the stats recently I was like, ‘wow, I didn’t realize she has this many goals.’”
Diplock has scored eight goals in a game twice this season — including a double overtime victory over Emmanuel on April 3 at Deering Memorial Stadium in Standish.
She scored the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and then added three more in the overtime periods to carry the Monks to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference victory.
Diplock credited that game with fueling her confidence.
“It was a big confidence-booster,” she said. “It also helped us get a win.”
Last season, Diplock finished second on the team with 26 goals and third in scoring with 31 points.
With three regular-season games remaining for the Monks (7-4), Diplock is on pace to more than double her scoring output from a year ago.
So why the sudden boost in scoring?
“I don’t know,” Gordon said. “I think she is more confident and has more confidence in her role, which is to get to the net.”
Diplock acknowledged it was a challenging transition to the collegiate game, but added she earned the respect of her teammates, which helped her confidence heading into this campaign.
“Having a year under my belt really helped,” she said. “Coming into this season I really knew what to expect. Plus, I gained the respect of the older players, and that really helped. I was just ready. I really started to feel comfortable at the end of last season and the beginning of this one. The game is just so much faster.”
The Monks are 5-3 in the GNAC and are part of a crowded middle of the pack with Emerson, Simmons and Mt. Ida.
The team is coming off what Gordon called a disappointing 2011 season a year after it reached the conference semifinals.
Now, with Diplock leading the charge, St. Joseph’s is looking to make another postseason run.
“We want a top-four spot in the playoffs to get a home game,” Gordon said. “Last year, we had a disappointing season but the girls are looking for redemption this year.”
Added Diplock, an exercise science major: “We are fast and we are aggressive. We want to win as many games as we can.”
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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