As the field hockey team gears up for the 2002 season, it will have one word on its mind: offense.
It was, after all, a severe lack of offense that led the 2001 team to a 3-10 record, and a share of the NESCAC cellar. Through all 13 of its games, the team scored only 12 goals, and that number was boosted by a five-goal outburst against Bates on an Astroturf field.
"Offense is definitely a focus for our team this year," sophomore defender Jayme Heller said. "We're going to work on just getting the ball in there from the midfield, and all working together."
Improving the offense may be easier said than done however, as Tufts lost three of its top offensive threats last season with the graduation of tri-captains Christina Orf, Barbara Szajda, and All-NESCAC midfielder Lindsay Lionetti. The three combined for 29 career goals and 84 career points.
The Jumbos will, therefore, be forced to rely heavily on two of this year's trio-captains, seniors Dana Chivvis and Laura Hacker. Chivvis was second on the team in scoring last season, and has a team-leading 20 career goals and ten career assists for a total of 50 points. She is already seventh on the list of all-time scoring leaders in Tufts history, and could move up a few spots on that ladder this season.
Though Hacker is not as prolific as Chivvis', she has nevertheless proven her worth to the team's offense, with 12 points in 32 career games.
While it will not be easy to replace the production and the leadership of the graduated seniors, Chivvis and Hacker provide the team with a foundation.
While the offense may have been lackluster last season, the defense was solid. The team suffered four 1-0 losses, and allowed more than two goals only five times. Senior Ursula Stahl, the third trio-captain, will anchor a defense that lost only one starter to graduation last year.
The team's last line of defense will likely be senior goalie Lauren Rufino. Rufino started seven games last year, and despite a 1-6 record, held opposing teams to just 1.56 goals per game while compiling a save percentage of 82.9 percent. Her career numbers are equally impressive; in 12 career starts she has allowed 1.64 goals per game for a save percentage of 80.9.
Though Rufino's numbers are best among Tufts goalkeepers, juniors Julie Jackson and Fara White may also start some games in the net. Each played in five games last year, though White started only one - the only start of her college career. Jackson is 0-3 in her career with a goals against average of 1.6, and a save percentage of 77.8. White is 2-1 with 2.84 GAA and a save percentage of 75.7.
According to Heller, the team will also try to improve upon its chemistry.
"Last year I think that we learned that if we don't have everyone attacking as a team and defending as a team we won't be as successful as we want to be," she said. "How far we go depends on how well we all play together."
Heller said that the team's chemistry was not necessarily a problem last year, but it is already better this year.
"We have a few freshmen who look really strong. We're all working together really well, and if we can do that we'll definitely be successful," she said.
The Jumbos open up their season on Sept. 12 with a non-conference matchup against Bentley. They will begin their NESCAC schedule on Sept. 14 against Amherst, a team which they lost to last year by a 1-0 margin.
If nothing else, the team seems to have erased the memories of a dismal 2001 campaign, and are looking forward to a new year.
"Everyone is very excited - we're all extremely excited to be on the team," Heller said. "I don't think anyone doubts that we'll have a successful season."
