MEDFORD, MA (February 28, 2024) -- The Tufts University women's lacrosse team starts its 2024 season Saturday afternoon on the road at Connecticut College with New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play. The Jumbos come into the campaign ranked No. 4 in the most recent Inside Lacrosse poll, after finishing last season 16-5 while posting an 8-2 record in conference play including a 9-1 mark at home.
For 98 percent of the programs in the nation, last year's season would have been a historic one but a NCAA Quarterfinal loss to William Smith left the team and head coach
Courtney Shute eager to get back at it this season. Despite finishing ranked No. 5 in the country, the team know's there more to achieve.
"I think it definitely felt like we fell short last year from both my perspective and the team's perspective," said Shute. "We've been to three of the last four NCAA Final Fours, but when I reflected on the fact that we were No. 5 at the end of the year gave me a little perspective. But the program has really high expectations, and we're excited to chase something more this year...there's some good building this year."
The good thing for Shute was that for the first time ever, she didn't have to wait until the spring but the NESCAC allowed fall practices which allowed her to be there for workouts. The workouts allowed for her to see her group together, but also see the amazing work ethic they've been providing.
"I've been really impressed, this team has worked so hard in the off-season, I think that they are incredibly talented but match that with their work ethic" said Shute. "We're super deep, and the greatest challenge for the coaching staff right now is figuring out where minutes are going to go."
The Jumbos will certainly need that depth that she mentioned, as Tufts is slated to battle 10 teams ranked in the Top 20 Preseason Poll, including six squads in the NESCAC. That strategy, which has both national and regional implications, is one that is more about preparation for later in the year. "If we could, we'd love to have the strongest strength of schedule every single year. Obviously, you can never guarantee that but that's always the goal going into the season," said Shute.
With that tough schedule is to prepare for the hardest games later in the year, but Shute also mentioned that she understands that her squad gets every team's best when they step on the field with them. "We respect our opponent and prepare immensely for our opponents every game, but we just try to be the best version of ourselves every week," said Shute.
When asked about goals, Shute mentioned that the process this season will be just as important as the expectations themselves. "We've talked alot about the process of building and enjoying the building and focusing on that instead of the end result," said Shute. "We feel confident with the pieces of the puzzle that we have, and we want to just keep getting a little bit better every day."
"Our goal is always 1-0, that's the game in front of us. I do think though that we've been in the mix nationally at the top long enough that everyone understands that a national championship is one of the goals, but we don't get lost in that. That's not what we're focusing on daily, it's something that we want to achieve, but we focus on loving the two hours we have with each other every day."
A position-by-position breakdown is below:
ATTACK
The Jumbos bring back a very strong group of attackers, as Tufts brings back its five top scorers from 2023 along with 10 of its top 11. This is a group that is as deep as it is talented, and it's not short on talent or experience.
"It's exciting to have most of our attack back this season, they're looking very strong," said Shute. "We'll probably rotate six or seven players at those four spots, and those are players have had high level experience and have been part of those Final Fours and championship games."
Back for her junior season is Preseason All-American First Teamer
Margie Carden. The standout attacker finished the last season with 69 goals and 16 assists, as she added 15 free position goals while tallying three game-winning goals. Carden has led the team in goals each of her first two seasons, and her 138 goals is just 54 goals short of the all-time record for goals in a career of 192.
Another standout back at attack is sophomore
Allie Zorn, as she came off the bench in all 21 games to score 26 goals and dish out 10 assists. She tallied a huge game-winning goal at Williams College, and is playing very well so far this spring.
Junior
Ella Lesperance also returns after tallying 16 goals last season, while fellow junior
Kate Mastrobuono dished out eight assists in addition to her three goals in 15 games last season.
Alexa Amorosino tallied four goals on nine shots in 2023, and fellow senior
Lucy Hodge is back looking to help lead this group as well.
First-year
Sophia Claps brings a solid skill set this season, and sophomore
Sadie Dodson, junior
Emma Yale, first-year
Magdalena Rieper and junior
Maddy Charest all will give the team strong options in 2024 attack.
MIDFIELD
Tufts has the luxury of bringing a ton of scoring back from the midfield this season, led by the standout All-Americans of
Emma Joyce and
Madeline Delaney. The duo, each selected at Preseason All-Americans, combined for 79 goals and 29 assists last season in 2023. More importantly was their prowess on the circle, as Joyce set a program record for draw controls in a season with 112 while Delaney added 65.
"Emma and Madeline, two returning All-American middies, I feel they are two of the very best in the country," said Shute. White the Jumbos are looking to move former starting midfielder
Genna Gibbons back to defense, Tufts still brings back
Caroline Conaghan and her 23 goals and 12 assists in the midfield as well. Conaghan started all 21 games for Tufts last season.
Kate Deehan had a strong first-year season in 2023, as she played all over the field but has settled into a midfield role. The dynamic player started five games, while scoring nine goals and assisting on three others last season. Sophomore
Elsa Schutt was unable to get on the field last year, but has shown up already this spring and the coaches are excited about her prospects.
Seniors
Sophia Antezana and
Grace Frerichs each had important roles last season for the Jumbos on the circle, and junior
Caroline Cromwell played in 12 games while scoring three goals while contributing defensively as well.
Caroline Sapir has been bothered by injuries, but played in four games in 2023 and will look to contribute this season.
The coaching staff is also excited about the newcomers in the midfield, as Tufts will need the group of
Emily Leschin,
Grace Hammond and
Schuyler Lloyd to provide valuable minutes this season.
DEFENSE & GOALKEEPER
The one spot that's a little bit of an unknown coming into the season is at defense, where the Jumbos graduated a pair of starting defenders in
Mary Grace Reynolds and
Becca Gable along with starting goalkeeper Courtney Kauffman.
Tufts does return some very strong players at the position though, including some that worked hard through last season to push their way into the lineup. Senior
Meg Hatton was a started in 19 games last year, causing six turnovers while picking up eight ground balls. She's joined by grad student
Kate Wujciak, who was strong on the circle with 35 draw controls but also was solid in her defensive role.
Now junior
Kathryn Fernandopulle had a banner season at defense for the Jumbos, as she played in 17 games but still led the team with 23 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls. Fernandopulle reads plays very well, has a great stick and knows how to get the ball out of trouble quickly.
Genna Gibbons was a starter in the midfield last season, scoring 11 goals and dishing out five assists, but her ability to move laterally and defend led to 12 caused turnovers. She will bring those talents to the defense this season.
Sophomore
Nicola Donlan had a strong campaign as a newcomer in 2023, as she tallied six ground balls and two caused turnovers in 14 games of action, starting once. Classmate
Arden Meyer also picked up three caused turnovers in six starts on defense, playing 14 games. Junior
Bella Monteleone has had a strong camp and will push for time, and two-sport standout
Annie Aspesi will step onto the field after missing last year to injury.
The defense also adds a large group of newcomers, as first-years
Kathryn Wilson,
Sydney Kim,
Cate Anderson and senior soccer player
Nicola Sommers join the squad looking to make an impact in 2024.
In goal,
Pascale de Buren looks ready to step into the starting role in 2024 after serving as understudy to a pair of goalies that are both playing at the Division I level this season. In 2023, de Buren started three games while playing in nine total, making 19 saves while earning a 2-2 record. The junior net-minder is extremely gifted athletically, anticipates well and has the makings of another star keeper for Tufts. The Jumbos have also been excited with the progress of first-year keeper
Sophie Powless, who is another standout shot-stopper.
COACHING STAFF
Courtney Shute is into her 11th season with the Jumbos, but this year she will be joined by two new assistant coaches.
Erin Seibel, a standout at the University of Massachusetts, joins the sidelines for her first season in 2024.
Jake Versprille brings a ton of experience to the sideline, as he was an assistant for two seasons at Bryant University. He also spent five seasons as an assistant at MIT. Back again to help with the goalkeepers and with the draw unit is
Eric Rhoda.
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The Jumbos have a busy schedule to start their season, playing three games in five days, starting the season Saturday, March 2 at Connecticut College at noon in NESCAC play. The next day on Sunday, March 3, No. 7 Washington & Lee University comes to Medford before heading to No. 22 MIT on Wednesday, March 6 for non-conference action.
--JUMBOS--
