The Tufts women's lacrosse team is anticipating another promising season this spring thanks to the return of several key offensive players and a strong freshman class.
"The returning goal scorers are going to be significant contributors this year," coach Carol Rappoli said. "We have four of our top five leading scorers returning this year, including [junior] Dena [Miller], [senior] Megan [Doughty], [junior] Meredith [Harris], and [senior] Jen [Griffin]."
Miller leads the offense going into the 2005 season. As a sophomore attack, Miller was one of the NESCAC's top 10 goal scorers, compiling an average of 3.07 points per game. Last year, Miller, along with now-graduated defender Lauren Peach, earned a spot on the All-NESCAC Second-Team. Miller scored a team-high 34 goals and nine assists for 43 points. In only two seasons with the Jumbos, the star attack has already scored 51 goals and is well on her way to becoming a career 100-goal scorer.
"We are coming back with a strong returning attack," Miller said. "We have a great mix of incoming freshmen and returning players."
Other key contributors returning to the Jumbo offense are midfielders Doughty and Harris. Doughty scored 25 goals last season and had four assists for 29 points. Harris scored 18 goals and notched five assists for 23 points. Griffin and sophomore midfielder Jackie Thomas should also have a big impact on the offense.
"We have a large group of kids returning, and I expect them to be more composed and experienced," Rappoli said. "We have a veteran group returning
offensively."
The Jumbos' offense will be bolstered by strong new additions, as well as some changes to the current squad.
Freshmen Sarah Williams and Alyssa Corbett are expected to start this season, along with the top scorers from last year. Williams will play attack and Corbett will play midfield attack.
Sophomore Lauren Murphy, a star defender last year, will also be playing attack this year.
Graduated seniors such as Willow Hagge and Peach will be missed, but Miller is confident the team will still be successful.
"We lost three solid seniors this year, but luckily we have some great freshmen coming in to replace them." Miller said.
Sophomore attack Kendra LaFauci is in the midst of her first season on the women's lacrosse team and is very enthusiastic about the way the team has been practicing so far.
"We have a great group of girls with a lot of talent," LaFauci said. "Using what we have, we should be able to dominate the NESCAC league and make it to the tournament later this spring."
During the 2004 season, the women's team compiled a 7-7 overall record, a 3-6 NESCAC record, and were nationally ranked No. 19. The Jumbos also competed in the NESCAC post-season tournament for the first time since 2001, losing in the first round to defending national champion Amherst College, 13-7. The NESCAC is one of the most competitive conferences in collegiate lacrosse, as eight conference teams were nationally ranked last spring.
The Jumbos have their first game of the season at home against Wellesley at 4:00 p.m. today.
"We've been practicing hard for four weeks," Rappoli said. "We are looking forward to our first contest."
