Game Ready: Stay in Your Lane with Stony Brook's Clare Levy

Stony Brook’s backer zone has become something of a contemporary legend in women’s lacrosse. The Seawolves are annually ranked in the top five nationally in scoring defense — often claiming the top spot, including last year when they allowed an average of 6.83 goals per game.

The system emphasizes team defense over 1-v-1, and it’s clearly worked for Stony Brook, which has advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals four of the last five years.

But there’s a caveat: It’s easier to get caught in shooting space.

The shooting space rule is exclusive to women’s lacrosse and is designed to keep players safe while giving the offensive player a reasonable lane to shoot.

The rule prohibits defenders from running into the shooting lane of an attacker. It’s a common foul and confusing for fans. But defenders in a zone need to be hyper-aware of shooting space.

All-American defender Clare Levy offered these tips.

CLOSE THE GAP

Approach the nearest attacker before she gets the ball.

“As you see a player pass the ball, approach the player it’s going to as it’s in the air,” Levy said. “Right as they catch it, the contact will be there, and you’ll be in a good position, They won’t have the space to dodge or fake.”

LEAD WITH YOUR STICK

Approach the attacker, not her lane. Let your stick lead the way.

“Find the right diagonal angle to lean the stick,” Levy said. “Run at them and get the stick in front of them.”

Allow your body to follow your stick at the angle so you are not running straight at the attacker but at a tangent.

SELL IT

Slides are one of the most common times to get caught in shooting space. That’s where the game gets cerebral, and defenders become salespeople to refs.

“The best way to sell shooting space on a slide is to make sure you are out of the eight and making sure you are stepping to a player and not waiting for them to come to you,” Levy said. “It sells to the refs that you know what you are doing and are trying to play defense, not get the call.”

PRACTICE BUILDS CONFIDENCE

Levy recommends setting up a cone every couple of yards to outline the diagonal run.

“If you lead with the stick first and follow your body as you approach the cone, that’s great,” Levy said. “When your stick is first, you are taking away space for them to do anything. That is the best way to stop the player and avoid shooting space.”