Biles leads young Tigers by example

As the injury-riddled women's lacrosse team hobbles into its season-opener against Johns Hopkins, senior attack Lindsey Biles eases into her role as an older and wiser co-captain.

Honored as an All-American last year, Biles has long been a crucial part of Princeton's offense. Last year, she led the team in goals scored (55) and in total points (71), proving that she was as much of a threat as attack Theresa Sherry '04 and drawing the attention of opponents' defenses. With 120 career goals, she is 10th on the Tigers' all-time scoring list. But her contribution goes far beyond statistics.

"Lindsey has always been an offensive leader," senior goaltender Sarah Kolodner said. "My coaches very much rely on her to sort of set the tone and call in plays and get things going on attack, and it's going to be the same this year."

But as comfortable as she is being Princeton's goto player on offense, Biles is still adjusting to her new leadership position.

"I wouldn't say it feels natural," she says about her new role. "It took me a little while in the beginning [to adjust]."

Biles certainly does not lead on her own. Despite the team's youth, a solid leadership core, composed of senior attacks Leigh Slonaker and Ingrid Goldberg, senior midfielder Elizabeth Pillion, senior defender Jennifer Austin and Kolodner, provides experience and depth to the team.

"The seniors are all really supportive," freshman attack Katie Atkins said. "They've been helping people fall into place."

Biles seems especially determined to show, not tell, when she has something to teach her younger teammates.

"It's more about setting an example on the field, going hard for every groundball, things like that," Biles said. "You're basically teaching people what you've learned over the years."

The newer women's lacrosse players, especially those on offense, are looking to Biles for help.

"We're a young team," Biles said. "The younger players don't have a lot of experience with the team. It's been neat watching younger players step up."

Biles' younger teammates have already learned a great deal from observing their captain's playing style.

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"She's our top leader on attack," Atkins said. "We learn a lot from watching what she does on the field."

Fellow freshman attack Ashley Amo echoed Atkins' statement.

"She leads by example," Amo said. "She's always hustling. If she misses a shot, you can be sure she'll get it back. She's all over the field."

Though setting an example is the primary way Biles communicates what her teammates need to do, "She's vocal when she needs to be," Amo said.

Last year's 10-4 loss to Virginia in the NCAA championship game was certainly the 2004 squad's low point. Princeton boasted a 19-0 record going into the game but could not find an answer to the Cavaliers' intensity.

"It was a combination of a lot of things," Biles said. "We came out completely flat. We dominated possession in the first half, but our shots weren't falling."

That unexpected loss should motivate Biles and the Tigers to reclaim the NCAA title, one of the team's main objectives for the season.

"Obviously, we want to win another national championship," she said. "But other than that, we just want to play together as a unit."

Biles has the normal senior anxieties in addition to her focus on the lacrosse season. As a history major, she has a long thesis hanging over her head. She has no definite plans for next year, but Princeton's trip to Australia cemented her love for both that country and travel in general.

"I think I want to take a year off and travel before I get serious about finding a job," she said.

Longterm goals have to be pushed to the back of Biles' mind for the present, however. She and her teammates are concentrating on getting healthy and fine-tuning their game for this weekend's contest against No. 6 Johns Hopkins. More than half of the 27-player Princeton roster is struggling with injuries, and Biles has been affected by a shoulder injury.

But when she steps onto the Class of 1952 Stadium turf Saturday evening, the looming thesis and sore shoulder will be the last thing on Biles' mind. She'll be focusing on what she does best: leading by example.