News-Letter

Wise words: Mary Key

News-Letter: When did you start playing lacrosse? Mary Key: Sixth grade. Basically because my dad made me. N-L: What are your expectations for the season? MK: As a team, we'd really like to reach the national championship. We're all on the same page, and we really know what we can do. Post a comment

How to be a good fan, the Blue Jay way

Yes, the rumors are true -- the 2006-2007 lacrosse campaign is upon us. So get out all your colorful face paints, jovial Blue Jay jingles, and "Nest" t-shirts -- because it is time to get rowdy, people. With the snow quickly melting and the artificial grass on Homewood Field looking as green as ever, many of us are in dire need of some reminders on how to be rambunctious and ready for another historic season of clashing sticks, hard-hitting players, and flying rubber balls. Post a comment

What is Coach Tucker's secret to success?

Janine Tucker, head coach of the women's lacrosse, is nothing but positive. And with victories over George Mason and George Washington behind her she has every reason to be so. Tucker has a tremendous amount of faith in her team and considers the girls to be more like family than anything else. Post a comment

Petro's tough-love coaching style wins games

Many fans know Dave Pietramala, head coach of the men's lacrosse team, as the hulking figure in the dark suit shouting from the sidelines at Homewood Field. Many lacrosse aficionados know him as one of the gems of the Hopkins lacrosse program and arguably the best defenseman in the history of NCAA lacrosse, a three-time All-American who led the Jays to the 1987 National Championship. Post a comment

A season of success for talented Lady Jays

The women's lacrosse team still considers their 2006 season to have been less than satisfying. Though the girls sported an adequate 12-4 record at the end of the year, they were ineligible to advance to the postseason tournament. "Last year was just an unfortunate string of events," senior midfielder Meghan Crisafulli said. Post a comment

Jays struggle during a disappointing year

Last year was a disappointing one for the highly revered men's lacrosse team. They made it to the NCAA Tournament but lost in a heartbreaking game to Syracuse (13-12) in the quarterfinals. This was their 35th consecutive appearance at the Tournament, and they hold the record for the longest streak of qualifying for any Division I championship -- in any sport, ever. Post a comment

The exalted history of the Hopkins lacrosse program

We all know lacrosse is a big deal here at Hopkins. Whether you are a freshman just discovering the obsession that follows this age-old American Indian warrior training sport, or a senior-cum-diehard Blue Jays fan, it is impossible to escape the spring fanaticism that comes with the start of a lacrosse season. 1 Comment

The game's American Indian roots

Though lacrosse has just recently grown exponentially in popularity at the collegiate and high school levels, the game may actually date back as far as the early 15th century, making it America's oldest pastime. The highly athletic game, a mixture of football, hockey and basketball, is played on a grass field. Post a comment

Our biggest, loudest, longest, fiercest, greatest rivalries

Ask ten Hopkins students to name our biggest rival in men's lacrosse, and you'll probably hear ten different answers. Because we play in Division I, pretty much all of the teams we face are, objectively, at least decent. But each year, games against certain opponents inspire more excitement, passion and outright outrage than others. Post a comment

Men's returners hope to undo last year's mediocre showing

Last year's 9-5 record was a bit difficult to stomach compared to the joyride that was the undefeated 2005 championship run. But the `07 version of Hopkins lacrosse promises to be special. The stellar recruitment class of 2005 is older, wiser, quicker and stronger. Post a comment

Returning women led by scoring phenom and strong defense

For those not "in the know," Hopkins has not one, but two lacrosse teams, separated by key rule differences. The mesh netting is deeper in one team's sticks, while the other team's mesh netting is taut and less forgiving. One team sports ample padding while the other is relatively unencumbered. Post a comment

2007 Lacrosse Guide on Stands

Men's squad boasts experience, savvy

The men's lacrosse team has been looking forward to the 2007 season as a chance to forget about the inconsistency of last season, when they lost a spot in the semifinals to Syracuse and failed to follow up an unbeaten championship run the previous year. But the Blue Jays didn't make much of their first opportunity for a comeback when, during their earliest start of the season in the school's history, they lost 8-7 at home to a resurgent Albany. Post a comment