2008 Woodie Awards
Martial arts benefit Buote, Terps
Brian Kapur
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Sports
The lessons of speed, agility, balance and footwork that Mr. Miyagi once preached in The Karate Kid are now benefiting the Terrapin women's lacrosse team.
Senior goalie and first-degree black belt Allie Buote has allowed an impressive 8.59 goals per game and a pedestrian .453 goals saved percentage. Her 17 saves last week, including 10 in an upset win over then-No. 2 Virginia, propelled the Terps to the No. 2 ranking this week, and her individual effort was rewarded with ACC Player of the Week honors.
"I have always thought the footwork and the speed is a big help," Buote said. "Karate is mentally tough, and it helps me. It helps my reflexes and helps me learn to react and attack at the same time."
Buote's stellar play, which is complemented by the Terps' explosive offense, has helped the team avoid succumbing to continued problems with communication. She has proved especially effective on free position shots, and has helped the Terps compile a .686 save percentage on such shots.
"When teams are in the eight meter, she saves our butts in those tough times when we need those killer saves," senior defender Megan Cassara said.
While Buote was surprised to earn the conference honor, her teammates, who have total confidence in their goalie, knew she deserved it.
"She has been playing awesome - coming up with 10 saves against Virginia and kept us in the game and got us fired up," senior midfielder Kelly Kasper said. "We have complete confidence in her. When she makes a huge save it pumps all of us up."
In practice this week, the team focused on communication in most of their drills. Against James Madison, communication problems lead to several defensive breakdowns that resulted in goals or free position shots.
"Against James Madison we gave up a lot of goals on our mistakes," head coach Cathy Reese said. "I think we have given up too many goals to some of the teams we have played. We are going to be more focused and disciplined to eliminate errors."
The Terps will rely on Buote and a strong offensive performance tonight when the team takes on Richmond. The Terps are undefeated at home this season, and have an 11-home-game winning streak dating back to last season.
But for the first time this season, the Terps will be without Reese at home. Reese is due to have a baby girl today and will miss the game to have labor induced. Associate head coach Jen Adams will assume the head coaching role in her absence and the Terps are 2-1 in Reese's absence this season.
Without her, they'll need all the help they can get from their black belt in the cage.
bkapurdbk@gmail.com
Senior goalie and first-degree black belt Allie Buote has allowed an impressive 8.59 goals per game and a pedestrian .453 goals saved percentage. Her 17 saves last week, including 10 in an upset win over then-No. 2 Virginia, propelled the Terps to the No. 2 ranking this week, and her individual effort was rewarded with ACC Player of the Week honors.
"I have always thought the footwork and the speed is a big help," Buote said. "Karate is mentally tough, and it helps me. It helps my reflexes and helps me learn to react and attack at the same time."
Buote's stellar play, which is complemented by the Terps' explosive offense, has helped the team avoid succumbing to continued problems with communication. She has proved especially effective on free position shots, and has helped the Terps compile a .686 save percentage on such shots.
"When teams are in the eight meter, she saves our butts in those tough times when we need those killer saves," senior defender Megan Cassara said.
While Buote was surprised to earn the conference honor, her teammates, who have total confidence in their goalie, knew she deserved it.
"She has been playing awesome - coming up with 10 saves against Virginia and kept us in the game and got us fired up," senior midfielder Kelly Kasper said. "We have complete confidence in her. When she makes a huge save it pumps all of us up."
In practice this week, the team focused on communication in most of their drills. Against James Madison, communication problems lead to several defensive breakdowns that resulted in goals or free position shots.
"Against James Madison we gave up a lot of goals on our mistakes," head coach Cathy Reese said. "I think we have given up too many goals to some of the teams we have played. We are going to be more focused and disciplined to eliminate errors."
The Terps will rely on Buote and a strong offensive performance tonight when the team takes on Richmond. The Terps are undefeated at home this season, and have an 11-home-game winning streak dating back to last season.
But for the first time this season, the Terps will be without Reese at home. Reese is due to have a baby girl today and will miss the game to have labor induced. Associate head coach Jen Adams will assume the head coaching role in her absence and the Terps are 2-1 in Reese's absence this season.
Without her, they'll need all the help they can get from their black belt in the cage.
bkapurdbk@gmail.com
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