As the women's soccer season came to an untimely end two weeks ago with a 3-1 loss to Amherst, so too ended the career of one of Tufts' most prolific athletes. Lynn Cooper wore a Jumbos soccer jersey for the final time against the Amherst Lady Jeffs, closing out her four years as a leader on the Tufts soccer team.
Cooper's is a story of a career that might not have existed.
"I didn't even know if I wanted to play after high school," the Wilton, Connecticut native said. "If I had gone to a different or bigger school I probably wouldn't have."
Fortunately for the Jumbos, Cooper chose to extend her soccer career into the levels of collegiate play. She cites the coaching staff and the welcoming atmosphere of the team as the main reasons for her decision.
"I didn't really know what to expect," she said. "But the coaching staff [Bill Gehling and Martha Whiting] really made me feel comfortable. The team was very welcoming and it was just a great way to start the year."
Cooper made her presence felt early in her career, pacing the Jumbos' offense with 24 points (ten goals and four assists) as a freshman and leading the team to the postseason for its third consecutive year. She continued her impressive play the following season, again racking up 24 points, and notching only one fewer goal. In her first two seasons as a Jumbo, Cooper accumulated 48 points in the form of 19 goals and ten assists, in a mere 31 games.
In her sophomore season, which culminated in her being named to the NSCAA All-New England Region Second Team, Cooper tied a team record with three goals in a game versus Curry and scored in ten of the team's 15 games, including a stretch of six in a row.
"Lynn has always been a very explosive player," assistant coach Andrea Licari said. "She sees the ball so well and has a great touch. She always knows where the ball needs to go."
The individual accolades continued for Cooper in 2000, as she was named to the NSCAA All-New England First Team, following a career-high 28 points. Cooper's third year was the most prolific for her, as well as for the team. She led the way with 11 goals and six assists, as the Jumbos marched all the way to the finals of the NCAA tournament. The tournament featured one of Cooper's career highlights, as she notched the game-winning goal in overtime against Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the semifinals.
"I remember last year in the postseason," Licari said. "Lynn knew when we needed a goal and she always stepped up."
The team achievements were what Cooper valued the most throughout her career.
"The individual awards are always nice, and I'm proud of them," Cooper said. "But it's what the team does that's most important. Without the team I would never have been able to get them."
The 2001 season marked a slight downturn for Cooper in terms of offensive productivity. She accumulated only nine points on the year, and for the first time, did not lead the team in scoring. The team as a whole also experienced a bit of letdown, as it finished 8-7 and lost in the first round of the NESCAC tournament. Cooper however, does not see this as a disappointing way to close out her career.
"I'm not disappointed with my numbers," she said. "It's refreshing to see younger players stepping up and doing well. I'm really psyched for them."
Cooper also did not feel that the season was a disappointment.
"Last season was awesome," she said. "And obviously it would have been more satisfying had we gone further this year, but it was just a different team this year. Teams change so much from year to year, and that's what makes the NESCAC so great."
Cooper's contributions to the team over the past four seasons are immeasurable. Aside from leading the Jumbos in scoring three of four seasons, finishing with 85 career points, Cooper has always been a respected leader, as is evident from her selection as captain this year. Cooper's captaincy this season showed how much respect the team and coaches have for her.
"I think that being chosen as a captain was definitely my proudest achievement," Cooper said. "It's always really telling about your teammates when they trust you enough to be their captain."
Cooper will certainly be sorely missed. Though the team will likely be strong again next season due to it's depth and talent, a player like Cooper is irreplaceable.
"We definitely can't replace someone like her," Licari said. "We might be able to replace her offensive numbers, but you can't replace her as a person. Most of all we'll miss her smarts and just the consistency of her being there."
Cooper will not only be missed by the soccer team, but by the Tufts community in general. She played a crucial role in revitalizing school spirit, as all came together last year to cheer on the soccer team as they fought for the national title.
All Jumbos would certainly echo Cooper's parting thoughts: "I'm certainly glad I decided to play," she said. "I had a great time."
