Kolodner keeps cool in net

Whats the goalie's job?

"Stop the ball," Sarah Kolodner says without hesitating.

But the senior goaltender, returning for her fourth year of guarding the women's lacrosse team's net, understands her task this season is much greater than that. Since the team has lost All-American Katie Norbury '04 and All-Ivy League selection Mary Beth Hogan '04 to graduation, Kolodner recognizes that her role as the last line of defense will be that much more important this season.

"We don't have the same depth on defense as we had in the past," she said. "I'll have to play even better this year."

Head coach Chris Sailer echoes Kolodner's sentiments.

"We are expecting a lot from her. We're going to rely on her to make the expected save . . . and the big, spectacular saves," Sailer said.

Koldner has not left herself much room for improvement. After breaking into the Princeton lacrosse scene as a freshman, a season in which she won 18 games without a loss, Kolodner has gone on to amass a 55-5 record in goal. She is a three-time All-Ivy League selection. Last year, her 5.71 goals against average led the nation.

Of course, there was one important column that neither she nor her team sat atop.

"[Losing to Virginia in the finals] really taught us a huge lesson. Just because you're 19-0 heading into the championship game, you can't just count on that to carry you through," Kolodner said. "We weren't consistently building on everything."

But that was last year. The Tigers enter this season full of leaders who witnessed the team's past — albeit rare — shortcomings and now will make up for the team's lack of overall experience. Kolodner is an integral part of that group. With the possible exception of fellow senior Lindsey Biles, Kolodner is the most experienced member of the team, having played in 18 games her freshman year and started ever since. She sat out only 78 minutes all of last season.

Kolodner now has the opportunity to lead her Princeton squad one last time. Indeed, her leadership role will probably be more pronounced this year with the less experienced defensive unit.

"I guess there is a little more required of me now," she said.

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The job is not a new thing for the goalie, though. Anchoring the defensive unit inherently calls for a certain amount of leadership. Kolodner has not shied away from the position.

"Any good leader would like to have a combination of vocal leadership and lead by example. I try to balance the two," she said.

Though winning wind sprints in practice is definitely one part of leading by example, Kolodner admitted she is not the only one who brings competitive fire to practices.

"We all work as hard as we can every second, regardless of whether we're captains or seniors or whatever," she said. "I think that's a big part of why we're a great team."

One criticism of Kolodner in the past has been her inconsistency. Though giving up an average of less than six goals per game last year, she gave up eight or more on seven separate occasions. Kolodner, however, thinks that her ability to bounce back from mistakes is an essential part of her goaltending ability.

"It's important to keep a cool head and not get hung up on mistakes or goals, which I think is one of my stronger points," she said.

In general, Sailer understands that Kolodner must start each game with "an aggressive mentality" and be "ready for every shot."

Despite the loss of star power on defense, Kolodner sees many returning players who could easily fill the gaps. Senior attack Leigh Slonaker did not see much playing time last year but has shown vast improvement over the off-season. The team's recent trip to Australia, in addition to offering Princeton a great learning opportunity, also showcased some new freshman talent.

Save for her senior thesis, Kolodner should have minimal distractions this season. The English major already has a job waiting for her in a New York City bank, she says, clutching the Wall Street Journal under her arm as she speaks.

For now, though, she's fully focused on the job she still has to do in Princeton and is filled with confidence that the Tigers can accomplish their goal as well. Seeing the vast improvements her team made and its ability to adapt during less than a week of play against the Australian National Team, she wonders if there is anything they cannot accomplish.

"I'd love to have a great season," Kolodner said. "I'd love to have a great time with my team. I want to play well."

Oh yeah, and win a national championship.

Simple goals for a player whose job is to stop them.