The No. 19-ranked Hopkins Women’s Lacrosse team fell 9-4 to No. 17 Towson University this past Saturday at Homewood Field. The loss dropped the Lady Jays to 8-5 on the season, while bringing the Tigers up to 8-2.
After the Tigers opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game, Hopkins quickly answered back less than three minutes later when senior attack Dene’ DiMartino converted a free-position attempt, her 27th goal of the season. However, a 5-0 run by Towson from the middle of the first period into the beginning of the second half stung the Jays, who could not recover from the 6-1 deficit they faced midway through the second period.
Hopkins would not go down without a fight, and the team was able to cut into the Tigers’ lead with three consecutive goals. Sophomore midfielder Shannon Fitzgerald scored the first of these goals. The next two came courtesy of DiMartino, giving her 31 hat tricks in her storied career at Hopkins. However, Towson would proceed to close out the game, scoring three goals in the last 12 minutes to pull away from the Jays and secure a 9-4 victory.
The game against Towson was senior day for Hopkins, a day meant to celebrate the contributions on and off the field from the senior class.
“Senior Day is a day to look back and reflect on the impact that an awesome class has had on our team,” junior midfielder Haley Schweizer said. “It’s a day to lay everything out on the line, like all other games, but keeping in mind those seniors on the field next to you that won’t be there a year from that day. It is meant to honor all of the accomplishments that these girls have had both on and off the field and, no matter what position or how much play time they received, to honor how they have positively affected and influenced and been great models for all of the underclassmen on the team.”
Schweizer said she would miss this year’s senior class when they graduate this spring, particularly crediting DiMartino and senior attack Kristen Cannon as having had major impacts on her time at Hopkins.
“Kristen has helped me incredibly much academically at this school with dos and don’ts for what classes to take to succeed in my major,” Schweizer said. She credits DiMartino with pushing her to be her best on the field, citing an example from the game against Towson.
“We were down by three goals, and I was exhausted transferring from the attacking end to the defensive end, and I felt Dene’ run up next to me in transition and just push me, saying, ‘Let’s go,’ to pick it up and get it to slow transition,“ Schweizer said. “That one simple moment just identifies who she is to me: someone that’s always been there next to me for me and willing to give me a push when I need it.”
DiMartino reflected on her lacrosse career so far in the context of Senior Day. “Lacrosse has had such a huge impact on my time here,” the senior said. “I have met so many amazing people that I know will be in my life for a long time, and I have made countless memories... It’s great to play lacrosse and win, but it really is so much bigger than that, and the lessons you learn here only prepare you for life after graduation.”
DiMartino has a very clear idea of what the responsibilities of a senior should be.
“It’s an awesome feeling to be a veteran on such a talented team, and we do have a lot of responsibility,” she said. “The whole team looks up to us, so it’s important that we set the example for what we expect from everyone else. It’s also just being a friend and someone your teammates feel comfortable talking to and being around. I think that is most important.”
As the season continues, DiMartino said her goal is to be a leader for her team especially with tough games coming up.
“We know we need to finish this season strong to make it to the tournament, so we need to be focused and ready for whatever is thrown our way,” DiMartino said.
The Lady Jays next face off against UMBC Wednesday night at Homewood Field. It is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
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