Over the break, the Hopkins women’s lacrosse team looked to continue their excellent play as they head into the middle portion of their season slate. This time of year can be a pivotal one, as a team is looking to round into form and be at its absolute peak as postseason championship tournaments approach.
If a team can elevate its play and carry that momentum toward the home stretch of the campaign, it can build immeasurably beneficial momentum and can prove to be enough of a surge to even lead a team to the pinnacle of a championship. In one of their most dominant all-around performances of the season, the Lady Jays dominated the Georgetown
Universities Hoyas 10-4 this past Saturday, pushing their winning streak to four in a row and improving their overall mark to 7-3 on the year.
The mark of an outstanding team is being able to win the games that they should with consistency. While Georgetown lacrosse is a program with pedigree and while they were hosting the Lady Jays on their home field, the loss dropped the Hoyas to 2-6 on the season.
The 19th-ranked Lady Jays put forth another dominant defensive effort in a season that has been filled with them so far. It marked the sixth time in 10 contests that Hopkins was able to hold their opponent to single digits in scoring. Leading the charge was outstanding junior goalkeeper Caroline Federico, who has emerged as a stalwart force in goal for Hopkins in her first season as the unquestioned starter. She registered a career-high 14 saves in the contest, stopping and securing any and all shots that were fired at her from a variety of angles.
Caroline comes from a long line of standout Hopkins lacrosse icons. Her father, Michael, was a three-time recipient of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Award as the nation’s top goalie. He led Hopkins to three straight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles during his time as a Blue Jay.
Her uncle also played a critical role on both the 1979 and 1980 National Championship teams for the Jays.
Coming from a family of lacrosse royalty, Federico has certainly received a significant amount of guidance from individuals with championship pedigree. At the same time, it is important for her to carve out her own legacy on the field. Both men have certainly been vital to her success and development, but she is emerging as a dominant force in her own right in what could be a truly special season for the Jays.
The Lady Jays have seven contests remaining on their schedule, including key bouts at home against the Towson University Tigers and on the road against the University of Maryland Terps. While Hopkins have had an excellent season and are carrying a recent hot streak, they would sit on the outside of the 16-team postseason field if the tournament began today.
With the current momentum the team is carrying, it will hopefully not be long until Hopkins surges into the top 10 and emerges as a championship contender. With a powerful offensive attack led by junior Haley Schweizer, senior Dene’ DiMartino and sophomore Emily Kenul and with the outstanding goalkeeping of Federico, the Jays possess the elements that a team needs to make a serious tournament run. If you want to catch this exciting team in action, there will be numerous opportunities to cheer for the team as they make a push toward the NCAA tournament.
On March 26, Hopkins will battle the Furman College Paladins at 1 p.m. on Homewood Field in a game which promises to be a pivotal contest.
