Seven vocal leaders, from the get-go

When the women's lacrosse team held its annual winter meeting in early 2005, the freshmen sat in the back of the room, as is customary for the team's youngest members.

But when the coaches asked the Quakers what their team goals were, the Class of 2008 had something to say.

"All the seniors were like 'let's have a winning record,' or 'at least third in the Ivy League,'" then-freshman and current senior Allison Ambrozy said. "But our class yelled out from the back 'how about NCAA tournament team or Ivy champs!'"

Chelsea Kocis added: "Afterwards [the freshmen] had an hour-long rage session about why [the seniors'] goals were ridiculous."

At the time, the Quakers were rebounding from their worst stretch in program history; 2004 was Penn's first winning season in a decade. So the freshmen shouting out 'Ivy Champs' - something Penn hadn't accomplished in a quarter-century - was quite shocking.

But that's the Class of 2008's M.O: vocal confidence. And, as a result, when their careers end, the seniors will walk away as the winningest class in program history. The Quakers are 49-16 since the start of the 2005 season, and will play up to three more games in the NCAA tournament this year. (The previous record of 42 wins was co-held by the Classes of 1982 and 1983.)

"They've been huge for this team," coach Karin Brower said. "Their work ethic is unbelievable and they just have a belief in themselves and the team that's infectious. They're great motivators."

In addition to their outspokenness, the seniors' strength lies in their numbers. There are seven of them - all of whom are part of the starting 12.

"Any senior class is going to be important," goalkeeper Sarah Waxman said. "But I also don't think it hurts that our class is so big. There's so many of us that there's at least one of us at any position all over the field."

In 2007, there were only four seniors, one of whom barely played.

"Last year, the senior class called on our class," midfielder Melissa Lehman said. "They told us that they needed our help too. They knew how important it was to have us complement them. That's only helped us this year."

But it was the larger Class of 2006, which had six seniors, that really left its mark on this year's crop of leaders.

"We're on the field still playing for them," Waxman said.

This year, every senior has stepped up. Attack Rachel Manson leads the team with 30 goals and 20 assists, Lehman is second in goals and points, Ambrozy is fourth in points - despite recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the offseason - Tarah Kirnan is an All-Ivy First Team defender and leads the team in both caused turnovers and groundballs, Kocis has a balanced 10 assists and 10 goals and Kaitlin Farmer is a defensive-minded midfielder who has started all of the team's games this year.

Most importantly, Waxman has been a rock in goal, leading the nation with a 6.04 goals against average.

But despite their individual accomplishments, the group works together as a unit, with one picking up the slack when a teammate has an off day.

"It's really hard to be a leader all the time," Waxman said. "It's really helpful to have a lot of other people in your class. So if it's not your day, not your turn to speak out, there's going to be a person who can. And if you're upset, there are going to be six other seniors who know you very well to calm you down."

But as they look to earn their 50th career win tomorrow against Boston University, the Quakers seniors have had little to be upset about in their four-year career.

"From the moment we've become part of the Penn lacrosse program we've had some important goals, like we've always wanted to be NCAA National Champions," Kirnan said. "I think the team's almost there."

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