So far so good for Lipson

For the first time in over five years, the women's lacrosse team has started its season 4-0, including an impressive victory over the Trinity College Bantams on Saturday afternoon in Medford.

Tufts' 10-8 victory was the first time the Jumbos have recorded a win over the Bantams since the 1999-2000 campaign.

The squad's most intriguing story has been the play of junior goalie Sarah Lipson.

Despite the solid offensive play from juniors Willow Hagge and Meghan Doughty with four goals apiece and sophomores Dena Miller and Meredith Harris with nine and seven goals respectively, it is the goalie who is making waves

Lipson, an attacker all through high school and for her first two years at Tufts, faced her first shot on goal last October in the Gantcher Center, and has been improving ever since.

"I really couldn't have any expectations going into the season," Lipson said. "The defense is improving every day, and I'm improving every day as well. We have no expectations right now, which helps us so much because without expecting anything we're doing amazing."

Senior tri-captain and defenseman Christie Langenberg says that the team knew Lipson would be able to perform.

"[Lipson] is a really athletic person so we had high expectations for her coming into the season," Langenberg said. "But being a first-time goalie, she's definitely exceeded our expectations. She's confident, and she's playing really well."

The junior has played in all but 15 minutes of Tufts' four games this season, sitting out only the last part of Tufts' 16-6 rout of Western Connecticut.

The Arlington, Ma., native has allowed a mere 24 goals in four games for a goals against average (GAA) of 6.00.

She's accumulated 29 saves on the season, sending back 55 percent of opponents' attempts.

Lipson is getting used to the vast difference of playing goalie versus attack, but there are still some challenges.

"Everyone starts off the game a little nervous, but once they get a few touches they calm down," Lipson said. "I don't really have that opportunity anymore, because the first time I touch the ball is usually when it's being whipped at me."

The Jumbos' defense overall has stepped it up this season, especially in the second half of games, an area where they struggled last season.

This year, the team has allowed an average of just under 17 shots against a game. Last season, there were over 30 shots against per game on average.

To improve, the defensive unit has maintained a similar mindset as previous years, despite a new keeper between the pipes.

"I don't think we've been playing any differently with Sarah in goal," Langenberg said. "Our mentality is that we want to slide and pick up girls in the critical area, and we've tried to emphasize not letting anyone taking an open shot."

"But those are changes we would have made with any goalie, not just Sarah," Langenberg said.

Lipson wants to continue her success in goal as the Jumbos head into the heart of their NESCAC season over the next two weeks, facing off against the conference's top squads in Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury all on the road over the next ten days.

"Everyone is playing to the best of their ability and we're improving as a team, not just as individuals," Lipson said. "The NESCAC is a really competitive league so we can't look three games in advance, we just have to look to the next game and get really excited for every game."