“We’re all each other’s best friends,” said freshman attacker and midfielder Chelsey Newman. “I know they are there for me when things get tough or hard. I don’t think I could do it without them. Having best friends on the team makes the two-hour practices fun.”

The camaraderie has extended beyond the class of 2014 to the more experienced players. According to the freshmen, their older teammates have been supportive since they arrived at Harvard.

“They were given a lot of freshmen, and they’ve done a great job of not alienating us,” Buckley said. “They’ve taken us under their wings and have been role models for all of us. I feel comfortable talking to them, not just about lacrosse.”

Tri-captains Baskind, Sam McMahon, and junior Tyler Petropulos have been particularly helpful to the rookies as they find their places on the team.

“I especially look up to the captains,” Newman said. “They’re so supportive—they want us to be the best players that we can be so that we’re the best team we can be,”

The team is optimistic that it will be a contender in the Ivy League this season, despite boasting a relatively young roster.

“We’re going into this season as the underdogs,” Leffew said. “The lacrosse world doesn’t want to give us a chance, but we have a great team. When we put it all together, we’re going to shock some people. We’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.”