This weekend's game will be significant for Penn women's lacrosse for many reasons.
The No. 10 Quakers (10-2, 4-0 Ivy) are gearing up for their Senior Weekend game against Harvard where they will honor their six senior captains.
The seniors are defenders Katie Cromie, Natalie Stefan, and Mo Leitner, attackers Caroline Cummings and Emily Rogers-Healion, and midfielder Alex Condon.
For the Red and Blue, Condon, Rogers-Healion, and Cummings have 60 goals and 38 assists between them.
Aside from the impressive statistics of the senior class, their teammates value their leadership as much as their on-field success.
“They have done such a great job leading our team overall,” junior defender Katie Junior commented. "They have all overcome a lot of adversity and have pulled together to lead our team and are such a big reason for our success this year.”
Sophomore standout Erin Barry echoed Junior’s sentiments.
“They have really come together and led this team completely,” Barry said.
Players and coaches alike say that they will miss these likes of the seniors, but are looking forward to playing in their final home game of the regular season against Harvard (5-8, 1-4 Ivy).
However, few will miss these seniors more than coach Karin Corbett.
“I think that they lead through competitive fire,” she said. “They all really want to play to a championship level.”
The senior captains will undoubtedly need to be leaders in this final home game to come away with a win, as Corbett is looking to them to play as a unit in an effort to shut down Harvard’s high-scoring offense.
“Every year we have the same expectations," Corbett said. "We want to win the Ivy League Tournament.”
Although Harvard is currently last in the Ancient Eight, the Crimson could still give the Quakers trouble.
Harvard leads the league in goals per game with 15.31, compared to Penn’s 14.08.
“We can’t take any team lightly regardless of their record,” Barry said. “We’re gonna give it our all like we’re playing the number one team in the country.”
The players are looking forward to closing out the home season with a win for the fans and the senior class.
“Every game [the seniors] rise to the occasion,” Corbett praised. “[They] give confidence to the team.”
Despite the weak opponent, a strong performance could help propel Penn as they prepare for the Ivy and NCAA tournament.
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