Last season was a success for the women's field hockey team. The Jumbos went 10-8, reached the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament, and earned the number one seed in the ECAC tourney. But for the Jumbos to continue their success - the team has reached the playoffs seven consecutive seasons - they will need to figure out how to fill the holes left by the three departed seniors.
While the Jumbos lost only goalkeeper Dena Sloan, and defenders Amy Polverini and Collette Gaudet those three players were integral to last season's success. Gaudet led the team in points last season with 16, and along with fellow co-captain Polverini was named to the Astro Turf/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American team. Polverini was fourth on the team in points.
"We lost some significant players," senior Liesl Bradford said. "We're going to be a very different team. There won't be one or two or three players that stand out."
Sloan will also be difficult to replace, as she compiled a career record of 33-16 and a career save percentage of 87.4. That save percentage was up to 90.1 percent last season, when Sloan recorded five shutouts. To replace Sloan, the Jumbos will call on junior Lauren Ruffino or sophomores Fara White and Julie Jackson. None have much experience, but Ruffino did start two games last season, giving up five goals in all. Ruffino boasts a career save percentage of 77.5 and a goals allowed average of 1.76, but she has been troubled by an injured quad muscle during the preseason.
White and Jackson have also yet to prove their talents, though White did play twelve minutes of a game last season. Despite the collective inexperience in the net, the team is hopeful about the trio's performance in the year to come.
"The goalies are all very good," senior co-captain Lindsey Lionetti said.
Even with the loss of Gaudet and Polverini, the Jumbos have plenty of firepower. Seven of last season's starters return, including Lionetti, who tallied six goals and two assists and was named to the All-NESCAC team last season. The other co-captains, seniors Christina Orf and Barbara Szajda bring experience, leadership and a combined eight goals last season, while junior Dana Chivvis has scored 17 goals during her two seasons at Tufts.
In all, the remaining players accounted for 49 of the team's 76 points last season.
Defensively, the team will need Bradford and junior Ursala Stahl to play well and fill the void left by the departed Gaudet and Polverini, if they are in fact the two players who end up as defenders. The positions are still up in the air and may not be set until the first game on Thursday.
"We're trying a lot of formations," Lionetti said. "We're trying a lot of people in different positions."
Trying to fit in with the established players will be seven freshmen and a sophomore transfer. Whether these newcomers can step in and perform will go a long way toward deciding the Jumbos' fate for the season. So far though, the signs are positive.
"All of the freshmen looked great," Bradford said.
Workouts have been another positive sign, and the team finished their two-a-day practices yesterday.
"It went really well," Bradford said. "We all worked hard. We all came back in shape."
"Training so far has been really upbeat," Lionetti agreed. "We're all tired, but it's been fun."
The big question, whether or not the team can continue its winning ways, will start to be answered next Thursday, Sept. 13 at Bentley.
@s:Pre-season a success
