Athlete of the Week: Orly Ripmaster `03

Sometimes they just grow up fast.

In a year marked by the loss of several senior stars--Emily Stauffer '99 and Naomi Miller '99, for example--the Harvard women's soccer team has skipped the rebuilding, instead restocking its squad with a wealth of freshman talent.

This weekend proved to be no exception as freshman midfielder Orly Ripmaster netted two goals on Saturday afternoon to lead the Crimson to a 5-0 rout over Ivy League rival Cornell.

"[Orly's' goals were great," Coach Tim Wheaton said. "She was awesome [against Cornell] and has been doing a great job."

Her performance earned Ripmaster Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors, and the two goals marked the first in Ripmaster's young Harvard career.

Her incredible athleticism has made it difficult for Wheaton to keep her off the field, and he has adjusted its lineup to fit Ripmaster in.

"Her natural position is outside midfield," freshman Joey Yenne said. "So we adjusted from three to four midfielders to get her in as a starter."

And Ripmaster has responded in her new role. In addition to giving the Crimson an outside scoring threat with her powerful leg, she has been integral to Harvard's defensive success.

"Orly has done a great job since starting as an outside midfielder," Larson said. "She's so fast that her man never gets by her. I hardly have to worry about her man ever getting to me."

Although she has been stellar on the defensive side of the ball, it is Ripmaster's combination of athletic ability and hard work that has really stood out.

"Orly is just the most incredible athlete," co-captain Jess Larson said. "She's one of our fastest players, if not our fastest, and she is one of our hardest workers."

"She's got such long legs and can just fly down the field," Yenne added. "And she has a great leg; her shot is unstoppable when it's on-line."

For her exceptional play in a crucial Ivy League match, The Crimson is honored to name Orly Ripmaster its Athlete of the Week.