Tufts women’s lacrosse has been a strong program in Division III for years. Senior midfielder Emma Joyce has contributed to the team’s impressive record in her four years at Tufts. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Tufts won the NESCAC championship and was runner-up in the NCAA championship. Additionally, in the 2023 season, Tufts was runner-up in the NESCAC and made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. Joyce explained that being part of a team that’s been so successful has made for an exciting four years.
“Going to the final for a national championship two years in a row was pretty special,” Joyce said. “My freshman year, it was the first time we’d ever won a NESCAC championship and also made it to a national championship.”
Joyce explained that winning back-to-back NESCAC championships was one of the best parts of her career. The fact that COVID-19 impacted the NESCAC tournament her first year made the team’s win even more exciting in the 2022 season.
“We were definitely really excited [about our results] my freshman year, but there was still a little [caveat that] a ton of teams weren't playing still,” Joyce said. “Obviously we deserved it and worked really hard, but we still left unsatisfied. Then, backing that up the next year was really incredible.”
Joyce’s journey playing lacrosse started long before Tufts. From a young age, Joyce played multiple sports. Along with lacrosse, she also competed in swimming and soccer, which allowed Joyce to develop her skills across disciplines.
“With lacrosse … I was able to still play some other [sports] and compete at a high level, but felt like it was the one that I definitely had a lot of fun with and wanted to continue playing in college,” Joyce explained.
Joyce was excited about the coaching when she came to Tufts, and it proved to be one of her favorite parts of being on Tufts lacrosse.
“I really liked the coaching staff. That’s something that people kind of throw out when they’re getting recruited … but I didn’t realize until I got here how important [it is] having a coach that truly cares about you, loves you and is there for you,” Joyce said. “Our head coach right now, Courtney Shute, has been the most amazing coach that I’ve ever had.”
Joyce also explained that good coaching has created a better atmosphere for the team as a whole.
“Coach Shute has built such an amazing culture,” Joyce said. “I find it pretty rare to have a coach ask us when she’s wrong and want feedback from her players and actually take it and listen to it. … It’s been a really special opportunity that I definitely didn't recognize going into my freshman year.”
Along with good coaching, the support Joyce got from the team as a whole helped her grow as a person and a lacrosse player. Her trust in her teammates allowed her to take more risks on the field and improve her lacrosse skills.
“[In my first two years], it was hard to feel like I could really take the risks I wanted to, even though everyone trusted me,” Joyce explained. “Over time, from the support of teammates and coaches, I’ve learned that a lot of both individual and team success is from believing in yourself and knowing that everyone else believes in you.”
Beyond the field, the unique leadership structure of the team has helped Joyce and other upperclassmen gain experience leading the team. Instead of team captains, women’s lacrosse has senior leaders who take on many of the roles that captains traditionally would, in encouraging teammates and helping lead by example for their teammates.
“I’ve learned so much about leadership that I don’t think I would have gained in any sort of way without lacrosse,” Joyce said. “[I think] not having captains is really beneficial, and it’s allowed me to naturally develop into the leader I am both on and off the field: being more confident, speaking up in large groups and being able to manage a team.”
Joyce explained that her favorite part about playing lacrosse over the past four years was the team culture that allowed her to grow as both a person and a player. With the help of coaching staff and teammates, the Jumbos have created an environment where every athlete is valued for their skills. Joyce explained that this helped her learn about her own leadership style.
“Being part of a team and coaching staff that really embraces everyone’s role, truly, no matter how many minutes you see, no matter what grade you are, has really allowed me to realize and recognize what I’m good at, lean into that and feel confident in that,” Joyce said. “Even if I’m not the loudest person on the field, I’m still leading by example with my hard work and setting a good example for everyone else.”
Joyce is a community health and English major. Next year, she plans to stay and take classes to receive her Master of Public Health as part of the 4+1 combined degree program and use her extra year of eligibility from COVID-19 to play another season of lacrosse.
“I’m excited that I’m not completely saying goodbye to Tufts yet, and the lacrosse team,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else in any other school because of the people on the team and the coaching staff.”
