This year, Karin Brower enters her fourth season as the Penn women's lacrosse head coach. The players in her first recruiting class are now seniors.
This year's Quakers are now officially Brower's team.
It also just so happens that anticipation surrounding this season is greater than it has been in over a decade. Last year's squad sported a 4-3 mark in the Ivy League, its first winning Ancient Eight record since 1988.
But the Red and Blue does not plan on stopping there. Having lost only one senior, no one will settle for anything less then a better result this year. The team's first berth in the NCAA tournament since 1984 is not out of the question.
The lone departing player, however, will represent a notable absence. Lindsey Cassidy, the team's captain and leading scorer from a year ago, will be sorely missed in the upcoming campaign.
Although Cassidy leaves big shoes to fill, the Quakers possess several viable weapons to step in and pick up the scoring production. In fact, word is that this team's offense will surpass last season's in potency.
"This year, we don't have one person who's going to score all of our goals," said senior Katie Spofford, who is tied for the leading returning scorer. "We're going to have seven people on the attacking end scoring goals, so that's why we're going to be good this year."
As an attacker last year, Spofford tallied 24 goals. This year, however, Brower has elected to play the senior in the midfield. While her individual goal scoring may decrease, she should be a more valuable asset to the team in a position that suits her better.
"I think she's her strongest between the 30s," Brower said. "She's good at ground balls, she's very good at checking in the midfield, she's very good at bringing the ball up through midfield and we really needed her strength and size in the midfield."
Spofford should provide a much needed imposing physical presence for the Red and Blue in the middle this season. In her senior year, she knows what is on the line.
"I want to make this year my best year out of all four because I'm a senior and I won't have another chance to play again," she said.
Another notable returning player is Emily Cochran, who missed the second half of last season with an ACL tear. Before she went down with the injury, she was leading the team in scoring with 21 goals in just eight games. There is little doubt that, had she been healthy last year, she would have topped even Cassidy as the top scorer on the team.
"It's a huge thing," Brower said of Cochran's return. "One, she's a playmaker, and she's also very competitive and wants to win. She just plays with a ton of heart and she's also a very enthusiastic and energetic player. She really gets everyone up for every game and she just doesn't accept losing."
The overall balance on the offensive end this year should be enough to improve on last year's totals despite Cassidy's parting.
Turning to defense, again the Quakers have bright prospects. One of the team's two All Mid-Atlantic selections from last year, Kate Parker, will man the defense with proficiency.
In net, the Quakers are more than adept with senior Liz Lorelli guarding the cage. The field hockey standout boasted an 8.20 goals-against average last season, good for fourth in the Ivy League and ninth in the nation. This year, she knows how important her play will be to the success of the defense and of the team overall.
"I know that our defense is tighter than it's ever been and I'm really excited to see how everything comes together," Lorelli said. "As goalie, I'm responsible for making sure that the defense is on its toes and all together."
This year, the team already finds itself receiving votes in the IWLCA Coaches' Poll, even though they did not break the top 20 last season. Although they are getting national respect and recognition, the players are neither impressed nor satisfied.
"We're a lot better than teams that got more votes than us," Lorelli said. "Significantly better."
Early on in the season, the Red and Blue will have the opportunity to prove what the players think is evident. In the season opener Saturday, Penn will play host to Ohio State. Things won't get any easier after that, as the team will then have to contend with No. 8 Northwestern on the road.
After that, the schedule is littered with ranked opponents that should provide stiff challenges for the Quakers.
"I think in general our team plays a lot better as underdogs, so we definitely have a lot of chances to surprise a lot of people," Lorelli said. "But at this point I don't think too many people are going to be surprised because I think the word's being spread that Penn's going to be pretty scary this year."
The pieces are falling into place for Brower and the Quakers. Last season's success was only a hint of things to come. This season, the Red and Blue are looking to put Penn in the national spotlight for many years down the road, and there's nothing to indicate that they won't be able to do it.
