MEDFORD, MA (March 3, 2023) -- The Tufts University women's lacrosse team has been out on the practice field now for a little over three weeks in anticipation of the 2023 campaign, a season that comes with excitement, transition, and expectation. The Jumbos have earned a spot in the previous two NCAA Tournament Finals but are still looking to get earn the program's first national crown after their first two appearances in the title game. That goal will fuel a team that has been impressive so far in the preseason to head coach
Courtney Shute, now in her 10th season with the Jumbos.
"This team has really bought into what we are trying to accomplish on a day-to-day basis," said Shute, who has posted a 105-39 record as the boss at Tufts. "The seniors really stepped up as leaders in the fall and instilled the work ethic that we were looking for in the group, they compete hard every day but are a really even keel group. They don't get too high or low, which is a little bit different than in previous years."
The squad obviously will have lofty goals coming into this season after last year's 19-4 campaign which included a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title, and even Shute understands that the long-term goals will be there despite trying to focus on the day-to-day. "We'd be lying if we said we didn't have long term goals, and those of course are important to us, but we also understand that we need to go 1-0 every day," said Shute. "We can't get to where we want to be at the end of the season without doing what we need to each day."
In preparation of those goals, Shute has scheduled one of the most difficult schedules in all of Division III in addition to the always ultra-competitive NESCAC slate. The Jumbos will play non-conference games against No. 5 Salisbury University, No. 4 Washington & Lee University, along with regional powers Roger Williams University, MIT and Endicott College. This should prepare the squad well for a late season run. "The scheduling was definitely intentional, and I feel like we have one of if not the toughest schedule in the country when you include the NESCAC schedule as well."
Shute also mentioned that this team has shown the ability to battle for one another while doing the little things that matter. "We battle for every ground ball, we are relentless when the ball is on the ground," said Shute. "We play hard for each other; this team is like minded in their approach and it's been fun to see them coming together. For this point in the season, I feel like we've progressed really well and that's a testament to our leadership."
The Jumbos are ranked No. 2 in the current Inside Lacrosse Division III Top 25 poll, and will open their season Saturday at home against No. 6 Colby College in conference action. A position-by-position breakdown is below:
ATTACK
The Jumbos finished the 2022 season second in the NESCAC in scoring offense with nearly 15 goals per game, and that offensive unit should continue to bring the firepower in 2023. The attack unit was led in 2022 by first-year
Margie Carden, who racked up an impressive 69 goals en route to All-American honors. Senior
Caroline Walter is also back after a fine season in 2022, as she finished with 37 goals and six assists in 17 starts with the Jumbos. Tufts also has a solid group that is looking for a larger role this season, which includes juniors
Lucy Hodge and Alexa Amorosino, sophomores
Emma Yale,
Maddy Charest, and
Kate Mastrobuono. The attack unit also has a crop of two first-years in
Sadie Dodson and
Allie Zorn that will look to make their mark.
MIDFIELD
The midfield group for the Jumbos could be one of the deepest, versatile, and athletic groups the program has ever seen this season. The ability to play on both sides of the ball has made this group special in previous seasons, and onlookers can expect to see the same in 2023. Sophomore
Caroline Conaghan had a solid first-year campaign for the Jumbos in the midfield, tallying 34 goals to go with 12 assists. She also tied for the team-lead with 17 free position goals. Fellow sophomore
Ella Lesperance recorded 25 goals in 16 games of action, starting three times, and junior
Emma Joyce also recorded 15 goals and seven assists.
Madeline Delaneyis also back after starting 11 times while playing in 16 games and recorded 17 points and 25 draw controls. There is a ton of experience in the midfield, as the group features five juniors (Delaney,
Sophia Antezana,
Grace Frerichs,
Caroline Sapir, Joyce) and senior
Sami Rothstein, along with four sophomores in Lesperance, Conaghan,
Caroline Cromwell and Gena Gibbons. Tufts also has two newcomers in
Elsa Schutt and
Kate Deehan added into the midfield group as well.
DEFENSE
The defensive unit for the Jumbos was one of the best in 2022, as the team allowed just 7.52 goals per game which ranked No. 16 in the nation and second in the NESCAC. Tufts did have some turnover in the defensive group from last season but does return full-time starters in seniors
Mary Grace Reynoldsand
Becca Gable to the lineup. Reynolds tallied 14 caused turnovers and picked up 20 ground balls while starting all 23 contests for Tufts, while Gable started 21 times and added 21 ground balls and nine forced mistakes. Senior
Kate Wujciak returns as well, while junior
Meg Hatton and sophomores
Kathryn Fernandopulle and
Bella Monteleone bring valuable experience in the defensive system as well. The Jumbos also welcome first-years
Arden Meyer,
Nicola Donlan and
Annie Aspesi to the squad to bolster the backend.
GOALKEEPING
One of the most glaring losses from last year's team to this year's team is the departure of
Molly Laliberty, who is now the starting goalkeeper at Northwestern University as a graduate student. Laliberty, who was the Division III Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022, started all 23 games for the Jumbos and stopped 54.5 percent of shots. Shute though is excited to see how her two goalkeepers,
Courtney Kaufman and
Pascale de Buren, step into the vacant crease and she has been wowed by both their demeanor and ability. "They have a great comradery as a unit, they cheer for each other and bring contrasting styles," said Shute. "We felt like we had three of the best goalkeepers in the nation last year, and this is just an opportunity for Courtney and Pascale to step up. We have all the confidence in both of them."
Kaufman played in seven games last season as a junior and stopped 63.6 percent of the shots on target, while De Buren got into three games in 2022.
--
Tufts opens its season with two straight NESCAC home games, welcoming in No. 6 Colby College Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on Bello Field, before hosting Amherst College Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
