The women's soccer team improved its overall record to 3-1 (3-0 NESCAC) yesterday afternoon with a 3-1 win at home over the Connecticut College Camels. With Amherst defeating non-conference Eastern Connecticut State University 4-2, Tufts takes over sole possession of first place in the conference.
The Jumbos started much stronger than they have so far this season, scoring two goals early in the first half. The Camels responded with a goal of their own midway through the opening period, and raised their level of play considerably, but could do no more damage before halftime. Tufts completely dominated the second half, and added an insurance goal in the 86th minute.
"We've definitely picked things up," sophomore forward Jess Trombly said. "I think a lot of it has just been picking up the intensity level. We still have room to improve, but at this point we're playing really well, and I think we'll get even better once we start playing with each other and learning what everybody does."
Tufts generated a number of scoring opportunities in the first few minutes. The team capitalized on one of these just over five minutes into the game, when junior midfielder Alle Sharlip played the ball up to senior co-captain Lynn Cooper. Cooper pushed her way through the defense for a clear run at the goal. Backing up Camel goalkeeper Laura Knisely with each step, Cooper picked her spot and fired the ball into the upper-left hand corner of the net to give Tufts the early edge.
Not long after, Cooper returned the favor, assisting Sharlip on the team's second goal. With the ball in the box and defenders in front of her, Cooper snapped a pass back to Sharlip, who was waiting a few feet behind. The midfielder then skidded a low shot past a diving Knisely to double the Jumbos' lead.
Sharlip's assist and goal give her seven points on the year, more than doubling her previous career total.
Shortly after the goal, one Camel defender could be heard shouting to her teammates "This is ridiculous, Conn., step it up." Apparently they were listening, as the Camels began to put more pressure on the ball, and were able to create a number of scoring opportunities.
A Tufts foul about 20 minutes into the half gave Conn. a free kick in Jumbo territory. Senior goalkeeper Mara Schanfield came up with the ensuing kick, and seemingly cleared the ball. But Camel freshman midfielder Christa Thoeresz stepped in front and rifled a shot back from over 30 yards out, beating Schanfield to score her first career goal and cut the lead to 2-1.
The two teams then went back and forth for the remainder of the half, with Conn. continuing to control play after their score, but with Tufts picking it back up as the period came to a close.
"I thought that we came out really hard in the first 20 minutes of the game," coach Martha Whiting said after the game. "But then they scored and it shocked us a little bit, and our intensity level went way down. We started standing, and they controlled a lot of the play at the end of the first half, which was a little disappointing."
Tufts again poured on the pressure in the second half, however, not allowing the Camels a chance to get back into the game.
"We talked a little bit at halftime about staying together as a team and staying positive, and just really trying to build the intensity level, which I thought we did in the second half," Whiting said. "We have a really fantastic team, but you're not going to be completely on every single game. It's important for them to understand that, but also to try to overcome those times when you're down a little bit."
After dominating play for the entire period, Trombly added an insurance goal in the 86th minute. Senior midfielder Becky Mann drove through the middle and laid a picture-perfect pass just beyond the reach of a Camel defender. Trombly redirected the ball past the keeper and into the left corner of the net to give Tufts a 3-1 advantage.
"Becky made an awesome run right through the middle, and it was a beautiful pass," Trombly said. "All I had to do was place it in. She did all the work - it was really a good run."
The Jumbos will travel to Colby this weekend to take on the White Mules (1-1) in their fourth consecutive conference game. With the momentum they have built up, the Jumbos should be prepared for the match, but still must be ready to play when they step on the field, Whiting says.
"Colby is another team that is always intense," she said. "They're scrappy. They come to play every game. And it's always an adventure when you go to Colby, because you never know what it's going to be like. But I'm confident that we'll beat any team we come up against as long as we come to play and play together."
Last season, the Jumbos fell behind 2-0 to the White Mules, but stormed back to tie the game with two quick goals in the 72nd and 75th minutes before winning on an unassisted overtime goal by Elizabeth Tooley.
