Kelly Amonte knows what it feels like to be a marked woman.
As one of the nation's highest-scoring collegiate women's lacrosse players, the Maryland junior draws a lot of defensive attention. But she can handle it.
Ever since Amonte scored more than 300 goals in high school, she has faced every defensive strategy the opposition could muster. That hasn't stopped her from living up to her advance billing.
"She never played like a freshman," said Maryland coach Cindy Timchal, who recruited Amonte out of Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass. "Just seeing her play among other good players in all-star games, she totally dominated. She was just light-years ahead of other high school players, and she stepped right up."
Amonte was an All-American in her freshman year. As an encore, she scored 36 goals and 27 assists last spring to rank third in Division I in points per game with 4.8. Along the way, she tied single-game school records for points (11) and assists (six).
And Amonte doesn't even play an attack position. At center, she can do her share of scoring, but she also plays a crucial role in midfield possession.
"Kelly plays a clear role in draw control and dispersing play," said Timchal. "Last year, when we played Loyola at Loyola, they really keyed on her and she was not able to score, but she won all the draws."
Amonte won just about everything last year, including a spot on the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, All-America honors and a position on the United States Women's Lacrosse Association's Elite Squad.
Still, there is one thing that has eluded her -- a national title.
The Terrapins won the title the year before Amonte arrived, but they lost in the semifinals two years ago and in the final last year. Maryland went into last year's championship game at College Park unbeaten and ranked No. 1, but Princeton pulled off a 10-7 upset.
"It was really disappointing," said Amonte, "but it gives me a lot of motivation. All the people who were there last year feel the same way."
Not that Amonte needs much more motivation. With her progression, Amonte appears on a fast track to the World Cup team that will defend its title in Japan in 1997.
To get there, Amonte is soaking up everything in periodic practice sessions with the elite squad, the top 26 players in the nation.
"It just raises my play to a different level, because the squad players are so good," said Amonte, 21, and the youngest player on the elite squad. "They're all college All-Americans. They have international experience. They just bring you to that next level."
In addition to a strong competitive drive, Amonte has a natural athletic ability that runs in the family. All of her siblings have been successful athletes, most notably brother Tony, an All-Star forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Sister Kim was an All-American in field hockey at Bentley (Mass.) College and brother Rocco played semipro ice hockey.
Amonte, a three-sport standout in high school who has played just about every sport including ice hockey, had to settle for two in college. She also plays soccer and as a freshman, was Maryland's first All-American in the sport.
Still, her future lies with lacrosse even though it offers no professional opportunity.
"I wish," said Amonte. "It would be the greatest thing -- to play and make a living off it."
Instead, Amonte will have to settle for a career on the sporting periphery. The speech communications major has added business courses and is considering a career in sports promotion or coaching. Either one would give her the chance to continue training for the World Cup.
For Amonte, that would be almost as good as getting paid to play lacrosse.