The expectations for last years womens lacrosse team were high. They returned eight seniors to their starting lineup after advancing to the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament, and looked poised for another successful run. The experience was there, yet the results did not come.
It was definitely disappointing, junior midfielder Kelley Cohen said. We had a lot of huge losses due to injury at the beginning of the season, and it came down to just not being able to really recover from that. It just sort of spiraled downward from there.
And yet, despite the loss of those eight seniors three of whom were named to the AllNESCAC second team and a rocky season, the Jumbos are both confident and optimistic heading into the 2013 season that will start this weekend in a Saturday matchup at Hamilton College.
Last year, the Jumbos finished 96 overall and 55 in the conference at the middle of the pack, taking the No. 6 spot in the conference heading into the tournament. They ended the season tied for fifth place in goals per game, second in assists per game and third in both ground balls and points per game.
In the past the 2013 team will differ in almost all aspects from the Jumbos of last year. Not only is there less pressure to live up to previous standards, but also less emphasis on the upperclassmen. While standouts such as senior Kerry Eaton who led the Jumbos in goals last season and was selected to the AllNESCAC second team and Gabby Horner bring individual talent and experience to the team, the Jumbos hallmark this year will undoubtedly be their youthfulness and freshness.
This year we are a completely new team, junior midfielder Kate Applegate said. Were much younger, but our bench is so much deeper, which is different. But its because we dont have this massive senior class. The team feels a lot healthier and a lot more fun.
Without so many seniors to take the reins, the leadership and ingame awareness will be more equally spread throughout the squad. In fact, the sophomore class has exactly eight girls to match the eight seniors who left last year. While all eight probably wont start, according to Cohen, most of them will step up to play integral roles in the lineup.
None of the thenfreshmen from last year were in starting positions and a lot of them will be this year, Cohen said. A lot of them have taken the opportunity to be successful this year after the big loss of the seniors from last year. They are thriving under this condition and are our biggest class on the team. They are really contributing and working to become the back bone of the team.
The incoming freshman class rounds out the teams of the team is. While the Class of 2016 holds only four of the 22 roster spots for the season, both Cohen and Applegate gave high praise for the manner in which the freshmen are getting involved.
They are really talented, Cohen said. Theyre coming up to speed fast, learning our plays and learning the style of team.
They are fantastic, Applegate said. Theyre super positive [and] pretty much allaround athletes. You can put them anywhere on the field and they will do well. Their speed is good, their strength is good and their size is good. They will be contributors. Some of them will be starting, which is huge as a freshmen in any program.
With team morale and chemistry improved from last year, they will look to get on the right track early. If the Jumbos can fuse the young and raw talent with the postseason experience of the upperclassmen, the Jumbos could turn what appears to be a rebuilding year into a pleasant surprise.
