Last year as a junior, Charlotte Schmidlapp emerged as one of the leaders both on and off the field for the women’s lacrosse team. By notching 14 goals, adding 5 assists and winning 35 draw controls in her 2007 season that was somewhat shortened by injuries, she established herself as one of the Red’s most dominant players. The combination of that offensive prowess and intensity with great communication made Schmidlapp, now a senior, a natural choice to be named one of the team’s co-captains this year.
Part of a formidable attack unit that also features fellow seniors Courtney Farrell and tri-captain Noelle Dowd, Schmidlapp possesses a natural feel for the game and some of the best-stick skills on the team. Schmidlapp’s poise and sharp awareness provide coach Jenny Graap ‘86 with an experienced, calm, yet aggressive, director on the attack.
“We’re really fortunate to have another senior, Charlotte Schmidlapp on the attacking end working with Farrell and Dowd, [Katherine] Simmons and that unit,” Graap said. “Charlotte’s an attack leader and someone who has an outstanding stick and sets things up really well and kind of quarterbacks the attack.”
While Schmidlapp posted impressive offensive numbers last season, her most valuable contributions are those that do not necessarily show up on the box-sheet. Graap explained that while other players may score more goals or earn more assists, Schmidlapp is a key part of everything that happens on the field.
“There are a lot of unselfish players ... who go into setting up a shot or setting up an assist and a goal,” Graap said. “I think Charlotte is one of those players who may not rack up as many numbers but is crucial to the whole success of that unit.”
Schmidlapp has played with high intensity throughout her time at Cornell. Senior defenseman Amanda Linnertz explained that Schmidlapp’s passion for the game has always been inspirational for the team, making for a seamless transition to the captain’s role.
“[Schmidlapp] definitely brings the most intensity of the captains and just a game-focus,” Linnertz said. “[Senior co-captain] Katherine Simmons is sort of the spark, like a cheerleader, Noelle is more laid back ... and Charlotte is the one that gets people focused when we need to be focused and brings a lot of intensity. She has had it in her all along, this is just the year that she got to show it.”
“I think that she is one of the most competitive people on our team,” Linnertz said. “She is a great athlete and she has had to overcome a couple of different injuries, but she brings so much focus and intensity to every game and every practice.”