The women's lacrosse team, coming off a season in which it went 11?4 overall and lost to Amherst in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament, began gearing up for its 2011 campaign over the last two weekends in early?season scrimmages against Stonehill College on Feb. 19 and Merrimack College on Saturday.
Tufts came away with a split against the Div. II schools, falling to Stonehill in a blowout before toppling Merrimack in a tight 17?16 victory. The Jumbos struggled in the first half of the Merrimack game but quickly turned around in the second, which including a game?winning goal in the final minute.
"In the first half [against Merrimack] we were just not playing our best and not working well as a team, so they took a 13?6 at the half," junior defenseman Katie Lotz said. "But in the second we came out firing, and came back really strongly and managed to get the victory."
Senior tri?captain Yael Tzipori, a defenseman, attributed the turn around to increased intensity in the second half.
"We just upped our intensity level, especially in the midfield," Tzipori said. "Our attackers really worked hard at winning the ball back, and we were able to take over the game."
Although both games were unofficial, the scrimmages were a chance for the young team to prove its worth. There are only three seniors on the current roster (tri?captains Sara Bloom, Lily Colahan, and Tzipori), while 11 players are either in their freshman or sophomore year.
The team is also currently playing without Colahan, who tore ligaments in her leg during the scrimmage against Stonehill. The injury will require surgery and could cause the defender to miss the rest of the season.
"Lily Colahan's injury caused a big shake?up to the lineup," Lotz said. "But we have a lot of capable defenders and people who are ready to step up. That comeback [against Merrimack] showed that we have a team that knows how to win and knows how to play in the big moments."
The youthful squad is in stark contrast to last year, when the Jumbos were led by a host of talented upperclassmen, including defender Alyssa Kopp (LA '10), who was named a First Team All?American - the first Jumbo to receive that award since 1996. Kopp led the team with 26 caused turnovers and her presence will be sorely missed at the back of the Tufts defensive line.
"Kopp was such a great player and a great influence on the whole team, so it's tough not having her around," Lotz said. "But everyone is stepping up and we know that we can play well even without her."
Kopp's absence will be partially mitigated by junior attacker Steph Perez, who captured Third Team All?American honors last season. Perez was the ultimate all?around player for Tufts last year, and in addition to leading the team in ground balls and draw controls, she caused 16 turnovers and scored 18 goals.
"Steph plays a huge role in our success and the captains really rely on her," Tzipori said. "In the fall, when we were having captain's practices, she really helped out with the entire team because she is such a versatile player. She is a great leader and a great player, and we all look to her during the season."
Perez and the rest of the team will have to wrangle through a difficult schedule, especially in the early season, if they hope to return to the NESCAC tournament. Tufts' first four games are on the road, including critical matchups against conference foes Amherst and Colby in the first two games of the season. Then, after a home game on March 26 versus Williams, Tufts will hit the road again for two more vital games against Bates and Wesleyan.
