The women’s lacrosse team’s defensive back line depth is young this season — very young.

Of the 25 players on the women’s lacrosse team, eight are defenders. Five of those eight defenders are freshmen. The youngsters have proven more than capable early on, however, which has helped the Bombers (3–3 overall) overcome a tough opening stretch to their season.

The trio of upperclassmen – senior captain Suzy Lull, senior Eryenne Printz and junior Kathleen Michel – have each started all six games for Ithaca, contributing in a number of different areas. Lull is tied for the team lead in groundballs, a key defensive statistic, with 14. But arguably their most important contribution to the team this season has been mentoring the five underclassmen.

Senior attack Meagan Howell, the South Hill squad’s fourth-leading scorer with 13 points, said the first-year players have followed the lead of their upperclassmen counterparts.

“We lost a lot of upperclassmen from last year, so we have a young defense,” Howell said. “The upperclassmen have really stepped it up and the younger kids have fallen right into place.”

Printz returned to the starting lineup this season after missing all but three games last year because of a broken ankle. Lull said Printz’s presence has been a steadying influence on the Bombers’ back line.

“Eryenne was a starter last year before she broke her ankle before our Florida trip, so we had to fill that void,” Lull said. “But she came back this year and has given 110 percent, and that’s been huge for us.”

In the Blue and Gold’s three wins this season, Lull and her defensive counterparts have helped hold their opponents under 10 goals all three times.

A lot of the credit can also go to senior goalie Emily Brooks, who has started all six games this year. Her 10.8 saves per game rank her among the leaders in the Empire 8 in that category.

Lull said Brooks has impressed the entire team with her play so far.

“[Emily’s play] in the cage has been the most impressive thing,” Lull said. “She’s just been unbelievable since the beginning of the season.”

The Blue and Gold generally go back and forth between man and zone defense, which is something Brooks said can make the transition to the college game difficult for freshmen.

“We go back and forth in man and zone defense [but] we’re strong in both,” Brooks said. “Zone is harder to play, so it’s harder to teach the younger kids the complexities. It’s something that’s hard to be played throughout the game. Man is easier from beginning to end, but zone creates a better defense.”

While the group of five freshmen defenders has steadily improved as a whole, Brooks said Melanie Braun has emerged as one of the top substitute off the bench, behind starters Lull, Printz and Michel.

“Melanie Braun is one of the first freshman low defenders to be subbed in,” Brooks said. “I’m really happy with how [the defense] is coming together. The unit as a whole is clicking. The freshmen that are stepping in all are really talented, and our two senior defenders have set an example.”

The Bombers will need their defenders – both young and old – to continue their steady play, as they face a pair of Empire 8 teams on the road this weekend. Ithaca faces St. John Fisher College at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Nazareth College at 1 p.m. Sunday.