How many people have the opportunity to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef, raft down the Tully River and hold a koala?
And then come within one goal of tying the world's No. 2 women's lacrosse squad?
After a Winter Break trip to Australia, coaches and players on the Princeton women's lacrosse team have these unique bragging rights. In a group of 37 people, the Tigers traveled to three Australian cites: Sydney, Cairns and Adelaide. They competed in four matches — one match against Team Koala and three matches against the Australian National Team.
The four contests were all part of the Australian Team Tournament, which took place between Dec. 18 and Dec. 21 at the beginning of the Australian summer.
The Tigers returned after 10 days with tans, stories and confidence that they can compete with a team that recently placed second at lacrosse's last World Cup, behind only the U.S. National Team.
The Tigers kept an online diary of their trip Down Under on the athletics department's website. In the diary, sophomore defender Caitlin Reimers and senior attack Leigh Slonaker described the team's adventures during the trip.
In between working out and practicing, the players learned how to surf, ate exotic foods like kangaroo and koala meat and swam with tropical fish. They also braved shark-attack warnings to wade along the coast.
Team members, now back at Princeton for exams, have many amazing memories to keep them going through the cold New Jersey winter.
"Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef was a terrific day," Reimers said. "Wearing those ridiculous spandex protection suits, swimming with fish we have only seen in the movies or Discovery Channel specials — the day was just spectacular."
On the field
Along with many exciting non-lacrosse-related events, Princeton practiced in Sydney's Olympic Park before facing off against two Australian squads.
Princeton first battled Team Koala, described in the Tigers' online diary as "Australia's version of the U.S. Developmental Team." Princeton walked away with a 21-8 win.
The tide turned the next day when the Tigers challenged the Australian National Team. These Australians defeated Princeton by the same 21-8 score as Team Koala did. Despite the loss, by the end of the day, the Tigers had more or less adjusted to the differences in the Australian playing field — both the arc and the crease have different dimensions.
A second game with the same team was nearly as lopsided. The Australian National Team ran away with the game by a 17-6 score. Reimers called the first two contests against the team "tough and humbling."
Princeton's final match — their third against the National Team and fourth overall — was certainly the highlight of the Tigers' play. The Tigers adjusted well to Australia's quick ball movement and aggressive fast break. Though its opponents managed to keep one step ahead the whole game, Princeton challenged them all along the way.
With the score at 9-8, an unforgiving goalpost deflected two Tiger shots that could have changed the outcome. Princeton was unable to change the scoreboard in the end, but the team was proud of its effort against a lacrosse powerhouse.
"The speed and strength and sense of urgency that the Australians demonstrated gave us a window to the international level of playing," Reimers said. "It was so exciting to find ourselves competing equally with them."
Expectations
After the trip and especially after the last match against the Australian National Team, the Tigers have high expectations for the upcoming season. If the team can play nearly even with a World Cup team, what will it be able to do against Ivy League and national competition?
"It opened our eyes to the level of play that we should and can aspire to maintain in our game," Reimers said.
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