Experience Ready to Lead Crimson

After finishing its 2010 season in style, winning four of its last five games, the Crimson women’s lacrosse team is looking to carry its momentum into the 2011 season.

“We really wanted to go out with a bang, and we did,” sophomore attacker Jennifer VanderMeulen said. “I think we were almost upset that our season ended, because we had just made such progress. We want to pick up from where we left off.”

But this year’s Harvard squad has quite a different look than the one that finished last season. Eleven freshmen are on the Crimson’s roster, and three new assistant coaches have joined Harvard coach Lisa Miller’s staff.

With solid sideline leadership, promising rookies, and talented returners, the Crimson expects this to be an exciting and competitive season.

“We’re going to be a good team,” junior tri-captain Melanie Baskind said. “I think it’s really a question of how good we’ll be and how far we’ll go. We proved our potential in spurts last year, so it’s just a question of consistency and what level we can really take it to.”

Consistency is going to be a necessity for the team, as the schedule ahead of the Crimson is challenging. Harvard will compete against four teams that appeared in last year’s NCAA tournament.

“[It’s a] tough schedule, but I think it’s really exciting more than anything else,” Baskind said. “Knowing that if we can knock off a couple of these teams, it will put our team in a good position in terms of getting recognized and going into Ivy play and hopefully the NCAA tournament,” Baskind said.

The Crimson will begin its 2011 season on Sunday with a match on the road against No. 13 Stanford. Last year, the Cardinals appeared in the NCAA tournament and finished 16th in the nation.

“Looking at the schedule, there’s no easy game,” VanderMeulen said. “I think playing teams at a higher caliber is going to force us to play with them. Overall, I think it will be great for us.”

Harvard will play eight games on the road, four of which are league contests. The Crimson will also challenge six competitors at Harvard Stadium, including Ivy opponents Penn, Yale, and Columbia.

Along the way, the team will be led by tri-captains Baskind, senior defender Sam McMahon, and junior Tyler Petropulos.

“Our captains have been great,” VanderMeulen said. “It’s nice having a leader at every part of the field. They’re really positive, which is really important. They’ve done a great job.”

All three have earned the respect of their teammates through solid play, setting a standard for the rest of the squad across the pitch. McMahon started all fifteen games last year on defense and collected 14 ground balls. Petropulos also started every game as a sophomore and earned honorable mention All-Ivy League honors as a freshman, serving as a solid presence in the attack.

Baskind anchored the midfield for the Crimson, finishing second on the team in goals and points while leading the squad with 41 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers.

VanderMeulen will also look to build upon a successful freshman season. Dangerous in the attack, the lefty recorded 56 goals and eight assists, and her impressive play caused her to be named the 2010 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and to a spot on the All-American third-team by WomensLacrosse.com.

Junior attacker Jess Halpern hopes to soon join these players on the field and to bolster the Crimson’s attack. After being voted Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2008 and first-team All-Ivy in 2009, Halpern suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game of her 2010 campaign. If the junior returns to form, she and VanderMeulen will be one of the strongest attack duos in the league.

With so many offensive weapons, the Crimson will focus on improving its defense in preparation for its daunting schedule.

“I think if you look at past years, our strength has always been in the offense,” McMahon said. “I think that’s slowly changing... There’s more of a balance with offense and defense. Our offensive unit is going to be amazing. In practice, I’m wowed every single time they touch the ball. That being said, our defense is really coming together. We’re going to be playing a system where we’re going to be pressuring the opponent.”

Synchronizing its offensive and defensive efforts will require Harvard to develop strong team chemistry on the field, something its players claim is one of its assets.

“Our biggest strength is our teamwork,” VanderMeulen said. “Last year, I felt like there was a lot of individual effort. This year, we’re really starting to come together and to play as a team.”