STARTING POINT: Dana Smith heads upfield in action this spring during her freshman campaign for the Lafayette College women’s lacrosse team. Smith a former Princeton High standout, started 16 of 17 games for the Leopards on defense, picking up 21 ground balls and causing 12 turnovers. (Photo provided courtesy of Lafayette College)

Dana Smith was a bundle of nervous energy as she headed to make her debut for the Lafayette College women’s lacrosse team this February at Monmouth University.

“It was very exciting, it was a Saturday game so we went to team breakfast and then had a bus ride,” said former Princeton High standout Smith.

“In college, the games are farther away. It is good and bad to have that much time to think about it.”

Smith did get playing time in the opener, coming on as a substitute. “I got in at the end of the game,” recalled Smith. “I just got to play 15 minutes. I was able to hold my own; I had learned a lot from the fall.”

Utilizing her speed and Energizer Bunny approach to the game, the 5’1 Smith more than held her own over the rest of the season, starting the team’s next 16 games, picking up 21 ground balls and causing 12 turnovers.

For Smith, the move up to college lacrosse was daunting at first. “It was a big change, the amount of hours you put in, even in the offseason,” said Smith, who also starred for the PHS girls’ soccer team.

“It was unlike anything I had experienced; there was such a learning curve with the style and speed of play. Even the rules were different. I had a lot of great role models, playing for my club coaches and older girls who I knew had told me what to expect. I don’t know how it was going to feel but I was going to be prepared.”

Smith had to learn a new position as she was switched to defense from her customary midfield spot. “We had a lot of changes on defense,” said Smith.

“I played defense earlier at PHS so I have always been comfortable on defense, I played a zone defense for the first time. One of the things I love about this sport is that it is constantly changing. It has been fun learning zone defense and getting to play that.”

It was fun for Smith to test herself against the skilled players she competed with and against at the college level.

“Every game I had to give it my best shot,” asserted Smith. “There are 27 amazing players on our team so when you get on the field, you have to make the most of it. That was the mind-set.”

A 14-12 victory over UC Davis on February 22 and a solid effort in a February 28 loss to Temple, in which she had three ground balls and two caused turnovers, helped Smith gain a comfort level on the field.

“It was my first college win,” said Smith, referring to the UC-Davis game. “It was great to see what it felt like to win a game at Lafayette. In the Temple game, I felt I understood what I was supposed to do and I really contributed.”

While Lafayette didn’t get as many wins as Smith would have hoped as it went 4-13 overall, Smith sees a bright future for the Leopards.

“Our team was very young, we have an awesome sophomore class and a class of 10 freshmen,” said Smith, noting that the team went 2-3 in its last five games with two of the losses being by one goal.

“The juniors who are going to be seniors are going to give us really good leadership. We had a freshman goalie and we got better working with her. Last year, our assistant coach, Anna White, was one of the best on draw controls, she was the Patriot League record holder. We had trouble figuring that out for a while and we got better and better working together.”

Things came together for Smith off the field as well this year. “I have a lot of great friends on and off the lacrosse team,” said Smith, who was joined on the lax squad by fellow freshman and former Princeton Day school star Lucy Linville.

“Everyone in the class gets along. There are a lot of other athletes. It is a small school so we get to know each other.”

Smith will be spending the summer coaching with the Ultimate Lacrosse club and honing her game.

“I am working on my speed because in college the game is so fast,” said Smith.

“I want to take every inch because I don’t have the height. You don’t have much time to make decisions.”

Looking ahead to her sophomore year, Smith is primed to take things to a higher level.

“I think I will be a lot more confident,” said Smith. “When I was a captain in high school, I was able to direct things on the field. As a defender this year, I felt timid about speaking up. Getting into 17 games, I had to make decisions and there is not as much indecision. I was very gratified to get in. You feel good, I have worked hard and it has paid off. I was able to help the team; next year I will be able to contribute more.”