Fresh off of their second consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship last season, the Colby Women's Lacrosse team opens the season with their eyes on a three-peat.  Though they lost a very talented crop of players to graduation, the team returns many starters and promising young players as they gear up for the season. They don't foresee any letdown in their play, and the pollsters agree; the team opened the season ranked number 10 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll and moved up to the number 7 spot before even playing a game.

This year's team is led in the attack by tri-captain Amy Campbell '10, who was honored as an All-American last year after scoring a team-leading 40 goals on the campaign. Joining her in the attack is another pair of experienced and accomplished attackers, Caroline Atwater '10 and tri-captain Carly Rapaport '10. Rapaport and Atwater accounted for 17 and seven goals respectively last season, and will have increased responsibility in the offense this year.

In the midfield, the team returns two All-Region selections from last year's squad: Kathleen Kramer '10 and Claire Donegan '12. With 32 goals scored last season, Kramer finished third on the team in goals scored. Donegan was equally impressive, sharing the ball as well as scoring en route to 17 goals and 19 assists, with her 36 points good for fifth overall on the team. Joining this accomplished duo in the midfield will be Casey Thomas '11, Ali Iannotti '11 and Lane McVey '12, all of whom played significant roles in the Mule offense last year and who will be expected to step up again this season.

The team once again looks strong in the back. Tri-captain Caroline Duke '10 leads the way after earning All-American honors her sophomore season, garnering All-Region and All-NESCAC First Team awards last year. She will be flanked by Lexi Crook '11 and Mary Cummings '11, who were both starters on last year's team as well. Sarah Warnke '11 returns for her third season as the starting goaltender for the Mules. Together, this defensive unit was a force last season, finishing second in the NESCAC in goals against average and first in caused turnovers.

The Mules kicked their season off on the right foot this past Saturday on Alfond Field, turning aside number 12 Williams in their opening game of the season. Campbell led the way for the home side, registering two goals and an assist, and the Mules also received goals from trusty veterans Donegan, Rapaport, Thomas, and Kramer. Getting in on the scoring in their very first collegiate games were Catherine Kahl '13 (two goals) and Kate Pistel '13 (one goal, one assist), two first-year players who have seamlessly integrated themselves into the team. The Mules will look to continue their winning ways this Tuesday when they take on the University of Southern Maine here in Waterville.