Jumbos suffer third consecutive conference loss

The women's soccer team came out on the short end of another heartbreaking contest this past weekend, as the Jumbos fell victim to the Trinity College Bantams 2-1 at Kraft field. The loss was Tufts' third consecutive NESCAC defeat, dropping them to 6-3 (2-3) on the season and seventh in the NESCAC.

"We didn't play to our potential in the first half at all," senior co-captain Abby Herzberg said. "We were playing frantically, but we definitely stepped it up and played well in the second. Unfortunately, things just didn't go our way in the end."

Despite the loss however, the squad is still positive about its season and about its place in the NESCAC.

"Right now, our mentality is that we have to go out and win every game from now on," junior Sarah Gelb said. "We're still fine in the NESCAC because everything starts over in the tournament. We're very positive right now, and ready to go kill Wesleyan today."

Like in the past three conference games, the Jumbos came out somewhat apprehensive. Tufts looked like it was playing more defensive minded and just didn't seem to be playing with full intensity.

The Jumbos' midfield suffered another blow just three minutes into the game when a Trinity player head-butted Gelb as the two went up for a ball. Gelb left the game immediately with a gash requiring 12 stitches over her right eye, but is probable for today's match at Wesleyan.

This lack of intensity quickly came back to haunt the Jumbos. A Trinity striker sent a corner kick high towards the goal, and after numerous deflections and attempts to clear, the ball found its way to the center of the field, just six yards from the goal line. Trinity senior Courtney Doyle took advantage, and ripped a shot past the hands of Tufts junior goalie Meg McCourt to give the Bantams a 1-0 edge.

"It is just a matter of not coming out with intensity at the first whistle, almost as if it takes a goal by the other team to motivate us," Gelb said. "We really need to work on playing the first few minutes and scoring first."

Tufts put relentless pressure on the Trinity backline as the first frame winded down, only to be turned back, time and time again by Trinity junior keeper Brenna Shields. As the first half came to a close, the score remained 1-0 Trinity.

In the second half, with freshmen Jenny Muller and Sage Graham, and sophomore first year Caite Meeker all starting, the Jumbos dominated the game and kept the ball in the Trinity zone for the majority of the half.

"In the first half, it took us a while to get set because we had to make a lot of changes in the midfield and bring in new players," Gelb said. "We were dominating the game but not controlling it, and finally stepped it up in the second and played our game."

Tufts struck even with the Bantams just 12 minutes into the second half. Sophomore Lindsay Garmirian, playing in her first game in over a week due to tendonitis in her hip, fought through the Trinity midfield and sent a lofted cross through the defense to junior Jen Baldwin, who was waiting in front of the net. Baldwin settled the ball and tore it past Shields to nod things up at one.

"Lindsay's injury has been really tough for our team because we know how strong she is when she isn't hurting," Herzberg said. "I don't think it was a surprise at all when she came in and played great. We knew that was how she plays; we have just had to wait for her to feel healthy."

Tufts continued to dominate the pace of play as the game continued. However, despite numerous shot opportunities, the Jumbos couldn't seem to beat Shields again.

With just 20 minutes remaining, and with the Tufts defense playing aggressively over the midfield line, Bantam freshman Amy Joyce sent a ball over the backline of defense, and speedy forward Caitlin Buzzle took control of the ball near the 18 yard line and ripped a shot past a diving McCourt into the left corner of the net to put Trinity up one.

"Our back four has been really strong and aggressive all year," Gelb said. "The one negative about being aggressive is that once the ball gets through, it's sometimes hard to get back fast enough. They were playing with three forwards, so they knew how to beat it, but we just need to work on getting midfielders back on defense."

Tufts poured on the offense over the last 20 minutes with hopes of sneaking one past Shields. Sophomore Sarah Callaghan and senior Jessica Trombly both got off numerous shot opportunities, all sailing wide or into the hands of Shields.

The Jumbos look to rebound in the NESCAC today at last place Wesleyan, and will then quickly shift their focus to Saturday's match up against the Williams Ephs, who currently sit in first place in the conference.