Women’s lacrosse scores Seven Sisters title

Juliana Kiyan and Lauren Sutherland Senior Editors

The formidable Swarthmore team was only one of the adversaries that the Vassar women’s lacrosse team had to face at the semi-final game of the Seven Sisters Tournament on Saturday, March 24. The flurry of slashing stick maneuvers, turnovers and rapid passing was rivaled by real snow flurries that transformed the field into a veritable snow globe. Unfazed by the inclement conditions, the girls emerged victorious from a game that team captain Ali Fantl ’07 called a “turning point” of the season. In fact, according to freshman team member Lindsay Magida, “The weather conditions just made the game that much more fun.”

The wintry 13-6 defeat of Swarthmore was a prelude to the equally impressive victory against tournament host Wellesley College on Sunday, March 25, a 9-8 win that garnered Vassar its second championship trophy in the tournament’s 16-year history. En route to the championship game, the women’s team also defeated Mount Holyoke 18-7 in the first round on Saturday. Vassar’s win will forever cap the legacy of the Seven Sisters championship as last weekend marked the final year of a long-standing tradition that has engendered many memories for the team and alumnae.

Head Coach Judy Finerghty considered Sunday’s final game more difficult compared to Vassar’s only
other tournament victory over Haverford in 2005. She said that the team’s “expectations were much higher,” since they wanted to repeat that previous success, and it was competing against colleges with high levels of play. No small feat, since Vassar began the year seeded in the lower half of the bracket after last year’s lackluster lower-bracket finish and faced opponents who were all higher seeds.

“It was an amazing experience to be part of winning the Seven Sisters Tournament two years ago,” said Fantl. “But this was equally, if not more rewarding because of the circumstances.”

It was by a single goal that Vassar won the thrilling, fast-paced final game that, according to Fantl, “had all of our parents very nervous.” With almost seven minutes remaining in the first half, Fantl received her second yellow card for slashing and was dismissed from the game. Finerghty said, “It was like being without our field general…We really had to learn how to play without her.”

The Brewers ended the first half down 3-4, but rallied back in the second half and led 9-4. However, after two additional yellow cards, the team was forced to play with one player down. Wellesley took advantage of the situation and scored four unanswered goals, leaving the Vassar defense to hold off late shot attempts for a win. As the clock ran down to 18 seconds, Vassar rushed the ball up the field only to be forced out of bounds by the Wellesley offense. Their opponents quickly moved up field to take a shot with 0.7 seconds left, but goalie Ariel Nelson ’08 successfully blocked the shot, and Vassar gained its second championship title.

Making its victory all the sweeter, Vassar placed three players on the All-Seven Sisters Team; Fantl was named Most Valuable Player, while co-team captains Nelson and Tina Castellan ’08 were awarded First-Team status.

The three games reflected a cohesive team dynamic that has been strengthened throughout the season. “This year, all 19 of our players bring something to the field, so we do not rely on two or three key players [and] every win is definitely a team effort,” said Nelson. During spring break, the team came together as a unit and built up momentum for Seven Sisters by playing games in Florida and New York. “Our confidence and energy was high going into the tournament because of all the work we had been putting in [over break],” agreed Castellan.

This was Finerghty’s 13th year as head coach of women’s lacrosse, and she has shown no sign of easing up on each new generation of players. Finerghty noted that all the players were able to contribute at Seven Sisters. Because the team was scheduled to play more games than they would have in a normal tournament, she looked to keep the team fresh, successfully avoiding the “fatigue factor” that plagued other teams. Fantl reflected on her four years on the team under Finerghty’s leadership: “Every year, [Finerghty], our beloved, inspirational coach, works us harder and harder and challenges us to rise to a new level of competition.” Finerghty worked with Assistant Coach Cara Dunn and Athletic Trainer Courtney Phillips to prepare the team for competition.

The fact that Vassar will have the last word on the Seven Sisters lacrosse tournament has bolstered team morale for the rest of the season. “I feel like this past weekend we made Vassar history because this was the last Seven Sisters tournament,” said Nelson. “We will be able to see that trophy at Vassar years and years from now and remember that day and the team.” Finerghty called Seven Sisters a “special tournament” for the team and alumnae, citing a strong connection between the schools with “similar philosophies.”

In 1980, the original Seven Sisters—Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Vassar and Wellesley Colleges—began to consider holding championship tournaments in sports common to all schools. Radcliffe and Barnard ultimately did not join the tournament, and Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and an eighth “wild card” entry were invited to participate in their places. Besides lacrosse, other championships are held in women’s basketball, crew, cross-country, field hockey, squash, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball.

The tournament is being dissolved after this year for reasons that include budget and schedule conflicts. Finerghty said, “Many participants play the same teams in the tournament during their regular season” and it is not easy traveling to the Seven Sisters to do it again. She also cited a new emphasis on league play over tournaments, but said, “It’s sad [Seven Sisters is] ending,” and that many “fond memories” have come from the tournament.

With a record of 4-2, the team faces league rival Skidmore College this Friday, March 30 in their first home game. Castellan said, “I saw so much determination and execution from our team this weekend. I’m really looking forward to bringing that same energy to the field when we play Skidmore.”

Additional reporting by Sam Rosen-Amy, Co-Editor in Chief