A disappointing season for the Tufts field hockey team came to a close last Saturday when the women dropped their final game of the season, 3-0, to Williams. The team finished the season with a record of 3-10, (1-8 NESCAC.), marking the first losing season for Tufts field hockey since 1994.
The loss was the exclamation point on a season filled with potential, but marred by frustration. The Jumbos began the season expecting to continue their winning ways, especially since they returned 17 of 23 players from a 10-8 2000 campaign. Junior Dana Chivvis had scored 17 goals in her first two seasons on the squad and looked to be an offensive force for Tufts, but only came up with three on the season. A promising crew of freshmen and a successful preseason had the Jumbos prepared for success in their 2001 campaign.
But the first three games of the season put on display the offensive woes that would continue to plague the team. The Jumbos were shut out in each of their first three contests against the likes of Bentley, Middlebury, and Wellesley. Tufts did not manage its first score of the season until Sept. 22 at Colby, in a losing effort. The team found itself outscored 8-1 in their first four games, and stuck in a 0-4 hole.
On the season, Tufts totaled a meager 12 goals. Last year, it scored 27.
At one point early this season, though, the Jumbos seemed to revive their dormant offense. In a conference game against Bates on a turf field, Tufts exploded for five goals, leading to its first and only conference victory of the season. After that game, the offense slipped back into its coma when Tufts was shut out by Conn. College in its next NESCAC match.
Although the Jumbos did notch two victories against non-conference opponents (2-0 over Babson and 3-0 over Wheaton), the team could not find an offensive groove against NESCAC teams. Over its next five conference games, Tufts would be shut out four times and score only once.
While the offensive numbers put up by the Jumbos were lackluster, the team did was not at a shortage for opportunities. Tufts frequently out-shot its opponents and often was awarded more penalty corners. In a game against Trinity on Oct. 13, the Jumbos were awarded 10 penalty corners to Trinity's six. Tufts also posted far more shots, as Trinity did not put a shot on goal during the entire first half. Despite the numerous opportunities, however, Tufts lost the game 1-0.
"I kind of felt like Trinity was the most emotional game," senior co-captain Barbara Szajda said. "That loss meant no NESCAC's. It was more painful, we took that loss a lot rougher."
This was typical of many matches, as the team dropped five decisions by a 1-0 score. The defense frequently held games within reach, but Tufts could not seem to find the back of the net.
Despite the offensive frustrations, the team did display marked improvement throughout the course of the season on defense. During once stretch, Tufts allowed 12 goals in four games. After working on their defensive marking skills, however, the Jumbos allowed only nine goals through their final nine games.
"It showed how much our defense improved," Szajda said. "Our marking got much more tight and organized. The goals that were scored [in final games] were good goals."
Next year, the team will be led by Chivvis and Ursula Stahl, a defensive force this season. The Jumbos are hoping Chivvis will return to her 2000 form, when she netted 12 goals.
Tufts loses four only four players to graduation. Those players, though, are among the team's best, including tri-captains Christina Orf, Barbara Szajda, and Lindsay Lionetti. Lionetti was the leading scoring for the team this season, with 12 points.
