Freshman goaltender Taylor Suplee didn't exactly know what to expect when she arrived at Penn State this past fall. Two goaltenders in Madison Cunningham and Lucy Lowe returned from last year, so the only guarantee was a healthy competition for the starting spot in front of the net.
It was unclear who would win the starting job until the beginning of the regular season, as Suplee was the starter for the first game against Towson.
"I guess I really just found out when they told me," Suplee said. "I didn't really know (when I learned I'd be the starter). I had great competition between Mads and Lucy and they're both awesome girls."
Through the first few weeks, Suplee didn't know if she would stay the starter, but game by game her number kept getting called and now she's settled into the starting role.
Short-term memory is an important aspect of any goaltender's mindset, something Suplee has come to embrace early in her career.
"You just have to compete every play. Those shots that go in, you have to let them go and just keep chugging along."
Suplee credits Cunningham and Lowe as some of the biggest developers of her game, as they have served as powerful influences on preparing her for the challenges of Division I lacrosse every week. Those two, along with the coaching staff have helped Suplee adjust to the college game.
"(Assistant coach) Amy (Altig) has been great coaching me, and (volunteer coach) Steph (Lazo) is now a part of our goalie squad and helping me a lot," Suplee said. "Mads and Lucy have really made me into the player I am in college as well. They just teach me to stay big, to use that 5-foot-10 height to my advantage."
Suplee's height certainly plays an advantage in one area of the game, which she noticed was drastically different from her high school experience.
"The girls moving through the crease was definitely a change," Suplee said. "I didn't really think it was going to be an issue until I collided with three of them in one of my first practices, and in one of the collisions we both just fell. So that was awesome."
It's not the only adjustment Suplee has had to make. The jump from high school to college life is daunting for any incoming freshman.
"There's definitely a big adjustment between managing my schedule and playing at the collegiate level," Suplee said. "It's a lot harder."
Another important part of being a freshman on any team is earning the respect of your teammates, something Suplee has done through her play and attitude on the field.
One area she's earned respect is with her defenders, an important relationship on both sides.
"It comes down to a respect level. I really respect them and they respect me," Suplee said. "I wouldn't say I really boss them around, I just tell them where the ball is. Hayley (DeAgostine) is awesome, she's a really good friend of mine. Reilly [Masterson] too, I definitely look up to her and she's one of my biggest motivators out there, always telling me to keep my head up and that I'm doing great. They're all awesome."
Two games into the Big Ten season, Suplee has had her fair share of conference action and appreciates the skill level that is required to play at this level. Playing in the Big Ten is also special to her for another reason.
"The Big Ten in my opinion is one of the best conferences to play in, which is awesome," Suplee said. "My dad played football at Maryland, so he was at a Big Ten school and now I am, and that's really cool."
The Nittany Lions will have a chance to pick up their first Big Ten win next Thursday when they travel to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern.
