Tessa Caputo Shines as Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse Star in NCAA Tournament
The Fairfield women’s lacrosse team really put on a show this season, and Tessa Caputo deserves a lot of the credit. She’s a sophomore, a former Princeton Day standout, and she’s fired up for the NCAA Tournament.
Fairfield’s got Army coming up in the first round. They want payback for an earlier loss and hope to go deep this time.
This piece takes a look at several local college athletes, spotlighting what they’ve done for their teams.
Tessa Caputo: Leading Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse
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Tessa Caputo has been right at the heart of Fairfield’s success. She racked up 27 goals and set a school record with 52 assists.
Caputo landed a spot on the All-MAAC First Team, which says a lot about her drive. You can hear her excitement about the tournament—she said, “We got a great bid this year and we are stoked to get the chance to play Army again. It’s an awesome opportunity to be able to compete at such a high level.”
Fairfield’s Journey to the NCAA Tournament
Fairfield’s sitting at 15-3 and will face Army (14-4) at Johns Hopkins in round one. They’re itching to even the score after that 15-8 loss to West Point back in March.
Caputo’s leadership and knack for scoring will be huge as the Stags chase a tournament run. She summed it up: “It’s been such a fun season and to have those honors on top of already having a blast with my team is something I’m so grateful for.”
Other Notable Performances from Local Athletes
Caputo’s season stands out, but she’s not the only local athlete making waves. Check out some other strong performances:
- Emma Dobkin (Lawrence): The freshman led Rowan at the plate, batting .426 and earning second-team honors as a designated player.
- Morgan Leonhauser (Neshaminy): Another freshman, Leonhauser hit .319 for The College of New Jersey, picking up nine doubles, two homers, and 19 RBI on her way to All-NJAC second team honors.
- Ryan Webber (Pennsbury): The freshman infielder will suit up for West Point in a three-game semifinal against Holy Cross.
- Michael Chiaravallo (Hun) and Deacon Bowne (Hun): Both play for Bucknell, which faces Navy in a best-of-three semifinal. Chiaravallo leads the Bisons with a .313 average and three homers, while Bowne started 30 games behind the plate.
Achievements in Various Sports
Local athletes keep showing what they can do, and it’s not just in one sport either. Here are some more highlights:
- Hailey Wexler (Princeton Day): She earned New Jersey Athletic Co-Goaltender of the Year and first-team honors at The College of New Jersey. Wexler led NJAC goalies with a 5.63 goals-against average and will be in net as the Lions start the NCAA Tournament.
- Emily Potenza (West Windsor-Plainsboro North): The junior midfielder made the All-NJAC first team for The College of New Jersey, tallying 13 goals, 14 assists, 51 ground balls, and a team-best 41 caused turnovers.
- Dom Vizzoni (Notre Dame): Picked up Honorable Mention on the All-NJAC team from Stockton for his work in baseball.
- Tyler McCord (Holy Ghost/Langhorne resident): Hit .313 for Amherst over a 2-2 week.
- Jack Tarzy (Hun): Made the All-Patriot League first team for Navy in men’s golf.
- Will Doran (Princeton): Landed on the All-NESCAC second team from Williams in men’s lacrosse.
- Jolee Roth (Allentown): Scored five goals and added seven assists for East Stroudsburg, earning All-PSAC second team in women’s lacrosse.
- Lexi Koz (Northern Burlington): Put up 19 goals and two assists for Shippensburg in women’s lacrosse.
- Maggie Handley (Neshaminy): Helped out on attack for Millersville in women’s lacrosse.
- Kate Becker (Princeton): Made the All-NESCAC second team at Amherst in women’s lacrosse.
The Road Ahead
The NCAA Tournament is right around the corner, and you can feel the anticipation. Tessa Caputo and Fairfield are ready to go for it.
Caputo’s leadership stands out, and she credits her teammates and coaches for the team’s vibe. “My experience at Fairfield has been great. It’s such an awesome group of girls we have here and our coaches are fantastic,” Caputo said. You get the sense she really means it.
Looking Forward to the Tournament
With the first round of the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, Fairfield is zeroing in on their matchup against Army. The team’s resilience and determination should play a big role in their quest for victory.
Caputo’s excitement is hard to miss as she looks ahead to the competition. “I have so much support here but am also pushed every day to get better by my teammates and coaches. It’s a great location—the perfect distance from home—and honestly, being 10 minutes from the beach never hurt anyone.”
Fans and supporters can’t help but watch to see how Fairfield and other local athletes perform. The stage is set for some real displays of talent, and every player’s bringing their best to the field.
For more details on Tessa Caputo and the Fairfield women’s lacrosse team, visit the original article.