Joining VanderMeulen are four other rookies from the Empire State who are expected to make an immediate impact. Danielle Tetreault, a native of Guilderland, N.Y., is likely to receive significant minutes at midfield right away.

“[Tetreault]’s a hustler,” co-captain Sara Flood said. “She’s always giving 100 percent.”

VanderMeulen, who battled against Tetreault numerous times throughout high school, remembers playing against the scrappy midfielder well.

“We always kind of butted heads,” VanderMeulen said. “But now it’s so weird because she’s one of my great friends.”

Joining Tetreault at midfield from the freshman class are Alexis Dal Col and Micaela Cyr. While Dal Col possesses a dangerous shot, Cyr uses her speed and quickness to create opportunities.

The combination of a strong freshman class and an experienced core of older players could bring huge rewards for Harvard this spring.

“They have a lot of talent,” Flood said. “We sort of need them to step up really early.”

But any pressure that might accompany the high stakes of being thrown into the fire right away does not seem to bother the nine youngsters.

“None of the freshmen have crumbled under the pressure,” VanderMeulen said. “Luckily we are going to be assets to the team early on, and we wanted to show [Coach Miller] that she can expect a lot from us, and that we’ll perform for her.”