Despite weather, women's lacrosse opens season today

Despite a snow-covered field and dreary conditions, the women's lacrosse team is optimistic about starting the season in today's game against non-conference rival Wellesley College. Because of Mother Nature's apparent indifference to outdoor competition, Tufts held practice indoors yesterday.

Today's match-up was scheduled to be played at Wellesley, but will instead take place on the artificial turf of Boston University's Nickerson Field due to the weather.

The game will pit Wellesley (8-9 overall last season) against the Jumbos (6-6 overall, 2-6 in NESCAC in 2003), who are seeking to improve after last year's less than stellar record. And although it would usually be detrimental, the recent inclement weather could play a positive role for Tufts in the game.

"We have been practicing indoors because of the weather," coach Carol Rappoli said. "I think we're ready for the artificial surface."

Preparing for a different playing surface is one thing, however. Trying to rally the troops and get the season underway for the first game is another.

"We have a very young group of kids, and we're working on the basics. We're making sure everyone knows the plays and their roles in them," Rappoli said. "I am looking forward to this after our scrimmages [with MIT and Bentley], because our team got better in each one."

The Jumbos handily defeated MIT and demolished Bentley, a Division-II school, 18-2.

Tufts beat Wellesley in Medford 12-10 in the Jumbos' third game last year, on the way to a 4-0 out of league record last year. The stellar non-conference record did little to help the Jumbos in the NESCAC, however, as the team finished with a disappointing 2-6 mark in conference. Every game the Jumbos dropped last year came at the hands of a NESCAC foe.

Still, while last year's out of conference games were a deceiving indicator of how Tufts would go on to perform in NESCAC, this year's contest against Wellesley can still provide valuable information as to where the Jumbos stand and what they need to improve.

"It's not a league game, but we are looking to win and [gain] some momentum and confidence," sophomore defender Hilary Pentz said. "It will give us some kind of indication about where we stand."

The Jumbos, who will be heading to Florida for spring break to face off against Union College and Western Connecticut, would like to get a win under their belts before hitting the jet-stream and the warmer weather.

Also important for Tufts will be the valuable play and leadership of veterans, who can use the beginning of the season to help the younger players get accustomed to the collegiate level. Specifically, senior tri-captains Christie Langenberg and Lauren Peach will have to anchor the defense for junior goalie Sarah Lipson. Lipson, converted from attack, will be making her first ever start in the net. On attack, senior tri-captain Kristin Saldarelli, and last year's leading scorers, junior Willow Hagge and sophomore Dena Miller, are all returning.

Hagge, also a member and former co-captain of the field-hockey team, scored a staggering 34 goals and notched 13 assists in her 12 games played as an NCAA-eligible sophomore in 2003. Scoring goals at a clip of 2.84 a game, she upped her career numbers to 60 goals and 21 assists, almost doubling the output of her nearest teammate.

Although Hagge is in her fourth year at Tufts as part of the museum-school program, she has another year left on her eligibility according to NCAA rules and, therefore, can factor in to Tufts' plans in 2005. Hagge did not use a year of athletic eligibility her freshman year as a Jumbo.