Even at the age of five, Caroline Bunting constantly carried a lacrosse stick in her hand.
She had a lot to live up to, considering her family history in the sport.
Bunting’s father played at Brown, and her grandfather’s skill as a defenseman for Johns Hopkins garnered him four national championships, three first team All-America accolades and a spot in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
“There’s always been a huge love of lacrosse in my family,” Bunting said. “It’s helped me a lot that my family is so supportive of what I’m doing and that they have so many comments and know how to help me.”
During her high school years at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts, Bunting’s lacrosse background helped her reach stardom. While also lettering in soccer and ice hockey, Bunting compiled 171 goals and 100 assists in four years and was named an All-American her senior year.
But when she arrived at Penn last season, Bunting lost playing time due to her lack of endurance.
“Caroline’s struggle with her fitness was frustrating, because we knew she had a ton of potential and that she was a really good shooter and had great stick skills, but she couldn’t fall back in transition,” coach Karin Brower Corbett said.
Bunting wasn’t deterred. She saw her fitness level as a reason to work that much harder.
In the offseason, she trained to increase her stamina.
“I’ve always been a hard worker, but this year I’ve felt like I have a chance to actually contribute to the team,” Bunting said.
Her work has paid off — Bunting has started every game this season after starting in just two last year.
“It’s night and day,” Corbett said. “She is one of our faster kids now.”
Bunting opened the season with a three-goal game against Drexel and followed that performance with two goals against then-No. 3 North Carolina. In just two matches, she equaled her scoring output from her freshman campaign.
“She is playing so confidently all over the field,” Corbett said.
The Quakers will look for Bunting’s strong play to continue tonight when Penn (4-0) takes on Rutgers (5-1).
Despite her resurgence, Bunting knows there’s still room for improvement. “My grandfather e-mailed me the other day because I had a tough game against Hofstra, and he said, ‘You need to find the back of the net!’”
After all, she has a lot to live up to.
