April 7, 2007
For the past two months, Vanderbilt fans have supported one of the most dominant athletic programs in the country. With seven teams ranked in the Top 25 throughout much of the winter and spring, the Commodores have established themselves as one of the most successful universities in all of collegiate athletics.
One squad that has heavily contributed to Vanderbilt’s success is the lacrosse team. This year the Commodores have shown a strong desire to finish among the top teams in the American Lacrosse Conference. Having won four out of their last five contests, they have demonstrated their skill and composure on the field, due in no small part to the experience and leadership of the senior class.
Molly Frew, who will be moving to New York after graduation to work in the Lehman Brothers’ public finance department, is joined by Jenn Tapscott and redshirt junior Ali Lemons as the captains of this year’s team. While Frew will travel north to New York, Tapscott is contemplating moving to the west coast and working in California after graduation. Lemons, a senior in class standing, will be entering graduate school at Vanderbilt and is considering returning for her final year of eligibility.
If Lemons returns, she will join redshirt junior goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry for a final year of lacrosse. Midfielder Nicole Pugno is investigating post-graduate work in the field of finance near her hometown of Upper Montclair, New Jersey, and attackman Kendall Thrift will be returning to Baltimore to likely work at Johns Hopkins.
This close-knit group of seniors makes up a class that is no stranger to success. Entering Head Coach Cathy Swezey’s program in 2004, they joined a talented team that finished 5-1 in conference play and 12-6 overall, good enough for its first ever automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and an eventual trip to the Final Four.
“That senior class was unbelievable,” Frew says. “They loved the team and cared so much about doing well; it made us eager to learn from them and continue to win. Everyone was comfortable following their lead, and as a result we finished among the top teams in the nation.”
Since 2004 however, they have struggled to just a 12-19 record over two seasons and have finished no better than 3-3 in the ALC. Dealing with the graduation of key players and the loss of several others, the team had to adjust to some significant changes.
With an experienced corps of seniors once again at the helm, the Commodores look to return to the NCAA tournament this year and regain the swagger of the squad three years ago.
“Coach has really challenged the seniors to lead the team, and I feel each of us has stepped it up as a result,” Frew says. “Instead of having the mindset of `let’s do it for the seniors’, it’s now `let’s do it for the team’. Our class has been really important to the team’s transition over the past few years.”
And Frew is no exception. A second-year captain, she is the only senior to have started every game of her Commodore career, anchoring the defensive unit in all 60 matches and earning second-team all-conference honors each of the past two seasons. She has been among the team leaders in ground balls and caused turnovers since her first start in 2004 and has witnessed first-hand the importance of strong leadership on the team.
“It has definitely become more challenging as I’ve gotten older,” Frew says. “As a freshman I was just glad that I could contribute and play a part, but since then I have taken more responsibility for directing the defense and knowing what’s going on. It’s nice to have the experience and confidence to make the right decisions when your teammates look to you for help.”
This season the `Dores have truly benefited from such experience. After a tough loss to Northwestern in the conference opener, the seniors motivated the team to continue to work hard and play up to their potential. They did just that, with dominating wins over Duquesne and Lehigh, a hard-fought 14-11 loss to #1 North Carolina, and a five goal win over Hofstra. The `Dores then upset #6 Penn State in a 9-7 thriller, led by three goals on three shots by Nicole Pugno, earning her the ALC Player of the Week.
The seniors continued taking charge in their next three contests against California, Stanford, and New Hampshire. Over the three game span, the `Dores were led by Thrift’s seven goals and seven assists and a combined nine goals and two assists from midfielders Lemons, Pugno, and Tapscott. Shinaberry added 21 blocks in the net, making crucial saves in a defensive effort to help them win two out of three.
With four regular season games remaining before the conference tournament, the 7-4 Commodores are eager to finish strong. Having proven to both themselves and the competition that they are a team to be reckoned with, they will continue to fight towards their ultimate goal: the NCAA Tournament. Regardless of the eventual outcome, the seniors are proud to have instilled a sense of confidence in Vanderbilt Lacrosse as they prepare for what lies ahead.
As for the underclassmen, the seniors are optimistic about their success in the future.
“The juniors work so well together and have already demonstrated great leadership because they have so much experience,” says Frew. “With such a strong supporting cast in the freshmen and sophomores as well as a solid recruiting class, next year’s team will be great, and I know they will continue what we have been building on this year.”