Cherry Hill West freshman Tatum Woods causing big problems for LIons' opponents
CHERRY HILL — Tatum Woods doesn’t look like a problem.
The pleasant, smiling, 5-foot-3 Cherry Hill West freshman seems almost delicate when she steps off the team bus. Then the game starts.
“I was definitely nervous when the season started,” Woods said. “It was very easy going into it with such a welcoming team. It's super-exciting. I'm very lucky to have this great team. They helped me with everything or I wouldn't be here.”
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There has been no stopping Woods this year. With a team-best 71 goals, plus 10 assists, Woods is the biggest problem opposing teams face. Not bad for a freshman who was a bit of an unknown quantity before the season. There were whispers, though.
“I played field hockey with Tatum, so I knew how fast she is,” West senior Emily Hazel said. “And she plays for my club team, AIM. I definitely knew her name. I always heard about Tatum. I was excited to be able to play with her. She really blew my mind. She really stepped up for us.”
The Lions made a big turnaround last season on the strength of a strong senior class that graduated last June. How West would follow that up was very much in question. Woods helped provide that answer, almost immediately.
“We saw it in preseason, not even a game, not even a scrimmage,” Hazel said. “She blended right in. But as my first scrimmages against Rancocas Valley and Clearview, I knew she would be a big factor in our play and our offense.”
Still, Woods is a freshman. Varsity lacrosse is completely different from anything she had played before. Woods would have to adjust. Quickly.
“I think there was a level of trust we all had with our teammates,” Woods said. “When they would pass me the ball, I would pass them the ball. I think it was just like an overall natural feeling. We all trust each other.”
Honestly, West didn’t have much choice. If the Lions hoped to build on what previous teams had created, they would have to rally together quickly.
“I think we definitely had some big shoes to fill,” Woods said. “With people like Emily Hazel stepping up scoring goals and winning draws, I think it made it super easy to continue having a good year. Our seniors, Naomi Aristone, Ava Leporati, Emily and definitely Sophia Levine on the draw. They helped us a lot.”
Helped on the field and helped Woods and her six other freshman classmates understand the little things it takes to win.
“She still brings out the ball bag," Hazel said. “She cleans up the balls after practice. She gets the water and does all her freshman duties. She is a big leader on our team.”
A leader, yes. But big? Well ...
“People look at us when we get to the game,” Hazel said. “We have some taller girls, some bigger girls. Tatum is tiny but she gets to the goal. She blows your mind. She's going to do big things.”
Big things in a small practice. At first glance, she might not seem like a problem for other teams. She is a big one.
“I like that,” Woods said. “I like that feeling sometimes teams underestimate how good smaller players can be. That’s awesome.”
Tom Rimback, sports reporter
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and The Daily Journal. Follow him on twitter @RimbackBCT. Email him with story ideas at trimback@thebct.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Freshman Tatum Woods a big factor in Cherry Hill West lacrosse success
