On April 1, Swarthmore women’s lacrosse upset No. 23- ’26 led the offensive charge, notching four goals and two assists for Swarthmore. Daughtery’s presence was felt from start to finish, as she scored the opening goal and assisted on the game’s final point to secure a Garnet victory. Just a day earlier, Daugherty was recognized as the Centennial Conference Player of the Week after her standout performances against DeSales University and Washington College. On March 25, the senior recorded a season-high five goals in a dominant 20-5 win over DeSales. Three days later, Daugherty put on a clinic, taking home four goals and five assists for a total of nine points in a 17-9 win against Washington. The attacker recorded a season high number of shots, assists, and points that day. On April 4, Swarthmore faced off against Dickinson College, when Daugherty scored one goal and two assists in a 14-8 win — the team’s third consecutive conference victory.
At the time of writing, Daughterty is on track to have the most productive season of her Swarthmore career with 28 goals, eighteen assists, and 46 points in twelve games. The Garnet hold a 12-2 overall record, 3-1 conference record, and four-game win streak. On April 11, Swarthmore will match up against McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, in their fourth-to-last regular season game.
Aimee Lee: Congrats on being named Centennial Conference Athlete of the Week! You had an incredible stretch of fifteen goals and eight assists across three consecutive games against DeSales, Washington, and Muhlenberg — what was working so well for you during that run?
Aubree Daugherty: I think it’s a culmination of many things coming together. I think that we have really settled into our offense, and as an attacking unit, have been able to better read each other, which is really important for improvising and playing off what the defense gives us. In addition, we’ve been so lucky to play against such a strong defensive unit during practice and we’ve been pushing each other to get better and preparing each other to face our opponents. We have so many offensive threats this year and I’ve been able to take advantage of that to find more opportunities on attack.
AL: The 14-12 upset over Muhlenberg was a huge win for the team, especially given the severe weather and delays. How do you reflect on those games?
AD: It made me so proud of our team. We were able to battle through the first 57:42 of that game, having a one goal advantage before the weather delay. Said weather delay then managed to fly by thanks to our team energy, music, and some shared snacks. I remember going back out to the field energized and completely confident in our team. That was the first time in my career here that we beat Muhlenberg, and it felt pretty incredible.
AL: Now that you’re in the middle of the season, what team and individual goals are you hoping to accomplish in the weeks ahead?
AD: I have been of the mindset that the only thing that matters is the next game and winning it. But, more broadly, I would love to make the Centennial Conference Playoffs this season. I know our team has what it takes and I am excited to keep taking each game one at a time.
AL: As a senior, how has your role on the team evolved this season?
AD: I have been so lucky as a senior to have such great underclassmen that are always motivating me to do better. I feel a sense of heightened responsibility in my role as a senior and I want to be the best version of myself for my team.
AL: How would you describe the team dynamic this year?
AD: The team dynamic is very positive this season; we have a big team and a lot of energy. We know that everyone on the team is rooting for our success and working towards a shared mission giving us a strong sense of togetherness. We also are more perseverant than we’ve ever been. We know we have a strong team and even when we get down, we’ve been able to rally and continue pushing in tough situations.
AL: What does a typical day look like for you during the season?
AD: During the season we have two lifts a week, so depending on the day I could have a morning lift. I then have some combination of classes, lunch, and work on homework up until practice. Practice is either between 4:30-6:30 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m. Afterwards, I eat dinner and unwind in my dorm until it’s time to hit the hay.
AL: If you had a full day off with no practices or games, how would you choose to spend it?
AD: If I had a full day off, I think I would take a nice morning stroll through the Crum Woods, pick up some lunch, and bask in the Cherry Border for the afternoon. I’d also take the train to dinner somewhere in Media or Philly before capping the evening off with a movie in my NPPR apartment.
AL: What is your favorite class that you’ve taken at Swarthmore?
AD: I think my favorite class I’ve taken at Swarthmore is Compilers with Professor Zachary Palmer. I think that’s the class I’ve been most frustrated in, but also the one in which I’ve also felt the most satisfaction when I finally got a new component of my compiler working.
AL: If you could give advice to younger athletes, what would it be?
AD: I would advise younger athletes that internal confidence is a huge indicator of success in their sport. In order to perform well in high-pressure situations, you need to believe in yourself and have positive self-talk going at all times, especially after you’ve made a mistake.
