A four-game winning streak has propelled Washington College to a 4-0 record in the Centennial Conference and the top of the league.
The run of success has been a relief for the Shoremen, who began the season with lofty expectations after reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament last spring but opened this season with five losses in their first six contests and dropped out of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll.
Coach Jeff Shirk acknowledged that the players were angered about the team's slow start.
"To be honest with you, shell-shocked, kind of wide-eyed a little bit, a little disbelief because this isn't how it was supposed to go," Shirk said Monday morning. "Spring break was big for us because we were able to get away and hash out some things and talk some things over and calm the guys down a little bit. But they never lost that fire and drive to be good this year, and I think that's been big in helping us.
"We talked about how as soon as guys started playing angry and a little more ticked off, things started to go our way, and we're starting to play a little harder, and guys were more focused and they saw some success with that. We started as a group that thought we had already proved some things and found out that you've got to earn it, you've got to work at it. Guys have done a good job – at least in the last four games – of getting better and trying to earn it back."
With each passing victory, Shirk said he has watched the players' confidence grow, and that morale has helped them adjust to their roles on the team. The next test for Washington College (5-5 overall) is scheduled to take place on Wednesday night when Ursinus (8-1 overall and 3-0 Centennial) visits Chestertown.
Shirk said a fifth win in conference would virtually guarantee the Shoremen a berth in the regular season-ending lague tournament.
"It's the biggest game that we're going to play to date," he said. "They've got talent up and down, and they're older. If you look at most of their top scorers, they're seniors. So they're really kind of riding an older group of guys who are performing at a high level right now. So for us to come out and play well and be successful, it's going to be big for this group."