Women's Lax Advances, Will Host NESCAC Championship
Kayla Chadwick
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This past Sunday, May 1, at noon, the Trinity College women's lacrosse team defeated Bates College in the first round of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament. Trinity, seeded No. 1 in the division, has enjoyed remarkable success this season, winning a record 12 games in the regular season, and losing just twice, to Tufts and Amherst. (In a twist, Amherst knocked Tufts out of NESCAC contention.)
Sunday's game was played before one of the biggest crowds the lacrosse team has seen all season, and the girls didn't disappoint. The final score was 16-6, and Trinity outshot Bates by a whopping 37-11. The Bantams had just eight turnovers to Bates' 14, and despite an impressive 18 saves by Bates' goalkeeper, Mara Krueger, the game was never really close.
Caitlin Irvine '11 led the scoring effort for Trinity with five goals, while tri-captain midfielder Sarah Remes '10 had four, tri-captain attacker Jenn Calver '10 had three, and midfielder Alisen Urquhart '11 added two. Attacker Kristin Phelps '10 and attacker Hadley Duncan '13 had one goal apiece. Assists for the Bantams came from midfielder Liz Bruno '12, Calver, Irvine, Phelps, and Remes. Starting goalkeeper Gina Dinallo '12 recorded three saves and was supported by excellent defense throughout the game.
According to Calver, the team's impressive run is due to the egalitarian attitude of the team. "Every player is equally invested and dedicated to the team's success, regardless of whether she's a starter, a sub, or never sees a minute of playing time - our team is essentially classless in that freshmen are indistinct from seniors and we all operate as equals," she said. Good team chemistry is often undervalued, and it's something that this team has in abundance.
According to Calver, the team's spirits could not be dampened, even during grueling practices occurring while New England made the arduous shift from winter to spring. "We always have fun - even when we're playing a game in the pouring rain when it's 35 degrees and we can barely hold on to our sticks. We all love seeing the rewards from our efforts, and because our team works so hard day in and day out, we've been able to achieve such success in the most competitive Division III league in the country."
It's true that the NESCAC is among the premier Division III leagues in NCAA, and Trinity women's lacrosse has a chance to win a title. The Bantams enjoy home field advantage through the remainder of the NESCAC playoffs, which resume this Saturday, May 8, at noon on Sheppard field. The championship game will be held the following day at noon, and Calver plans to be a part of it. "This team has unlimited potential and we plan on keeping up the wins to clinch the NESCAC title and an NCAA Championship."
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