It’s a good sign when an NCAA tournament berth still isn’t enough.

Despite receiving an at-large spot in the 16-team “May Madness” last year, the women’s lacrosse team has bigger goals in mind for this season. The Bulldogs, who will open their regular season against Fairfield today at 3 p.m., are gunning for their first Ivy League title since 2003. Last year, the Bulldogs lost their first Ancient Eight game to Penn before stringing together nine straight victories to clinch a postseason tournament berth. Penn went on to the Final Four before falling, 12-2, to eventual national champion Northwestern.

With Penn, Princeton and Yale all qualifying for the NCAA tournament last season, the competition for the Ivy League title promises to be intense. The Elis’ quest for the conference championship will be spearheaded by a strong senior class, led by All-American and Ivy League Player of the Year Lauren Taylor ’08 and All-American Ellen Cameron ’08. Taylor led the nation in goals per game, while Cameron was sixth in goals against, giving the Bulldogs two of the nation’s premier talents on both ends of the field.

—Karan Arakotaram