After defeating Bowdoin 10-8 in one of the biggest wins in recent memory for the men's lacrosse team, the Jumbos now prepare to face NESCAC rival Williams College on Saturday. Williams is 3-2 overall with a 1-1 NESCAC mark, and currently is tied for fifth place in the conference with Trinity and Bates. Tufts, meanwhile, is tied for first place in the NESCAC with Colby and national powerhouse Middlebury, with a 4-1 (2-0 NESCAC) record.
Last year, the Jumbos knocked off Williams by a score of 7-4 for their first conference victory of the season, after opening the season 0-2 in the NESCAC. This year the Jumbos head into the game on a roll, and will look to maintain their undefeated conference record.
Tufts may have its hands full with an Ephs squad that is no stranger to close games. Williams fell to Bowdoin in triple overtime on March 19 by a score of 9-8. Bowdoin scored the game winner in the final second of the third OT. Similarly, in its only NESCAC victory of the season, Williams defeated Bates College 14-13 in overtime on March 30.
The Williams offense, which averages nearly 12 goals per game, is led by junior attacker Chris Hayes, who has accumulated 12 points so far this season in the form of 10 goals and two assists. Senior co-captain midfielder Peter Thompson also has 12 points, though in the reverse form of Hayes, with 10 assists and 2 goals.
Tufts' offense has been slightly more productive than the Ephs', averaging 14.2 goals per game. Jon Zissi and Bryan Griffin lead the Jumbo attack, with 21 points each thus far this season. Griffin boasts 14 goals and seven assists, while Zissi has racked up 15 goals and six assists.
Both teams play stingy defense, with Tufts allowing 8.8 goals per game, and Williams giving up 8.75.
A key to the game will be goalie play. Tufts' net minder, senior Kirk Lutwyler, currently leads the NESCAC in goals against average (GAA), at 7.18, to go along with a .638 save percentage. The Ephs' goal keeper, sophomore Matt Rade, sits back in eighth place with a 10.5 GAA and .521 save percentage.
While the teams match up well on paper, it is the match up on the field that will decide the winner. The Jumbos are carrying a two-game winning streak, both wins coming against strong, proven programs, including a Bowdoin team ranked second in New England and 15th in the nation.
After nearly falling at the hands of Gordon on March 27, the Jumbos have been a completely different team, playing more disciplined and fundamentally sound lacrosse. Against Gordon, Tufts made numerous errant passes, scrambled wildly after loose balls, and played too passively on defense. Only a late fourth quarter goal from senior Jim Mandler secured the Jumbo win against a team ranked outside the top 15 in New England.
Further contributing to the team's struggles against Gordon were the suspensions of a number of players for disciplinary reasons. These suspensions, however, may have been exactly what the Jumbos needed - all team members seem to be playing harder and with more dedication since the violations.
Following the team's victory at Trinity, Griffin said, "[Gordon] was definitely a wake up call. It showed us that maybe we needed to work a little harder and focus a little more. Our next practices were some of the best we've had all year."
This revitalization was apparent against Bowdoin, as the Jumbos effectively shut down one of the top teams in the nation. Tufts' defense showed a great deal of poise, not allowing the Polar Bears to make a run and get back in the game. Meanwhile, the offense dissected the Bowdoin defense, outscoring the Bears 7-0 in the second quarter. Passes that went astray against Gordon were crisp and found their mark against Bowdoin, and players around the crease never stopped moving, making cut after cut in front of the goal.
But perhaps the biggest factor against Bowdoin was the team's energy level. While many players appeared indifferent against Gordon, all were alert and hustling against the much stronger Polar Bear squad.
The team will need to maintain the same level of intensity against Williams. The Ephs are able to hang around in games and remain poised even late in overtime periods, as evidenced by the victory against Bates.
A win against Williams is almost essential, as the Jumbos will need to maintain their momentum heading into next week's game against Middlebury, the top ranked team in the nation. If Tufts can ride its wave past Williams, it should be in good shape to face the Panthers in one of the biggest games of the year.
Tufts and Williams square off at 1 p.m. on Saturday at home.
