Tufts clinches playoff spot with victory

The Middlebury Panthers led the NESCAC heading into Saturday afternoon with 38 total goals on the season.

Clearly, Tufts was ready.

The women's soccer team ensured that it will be playing next Sunday in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs with an important 2-1 victory over the Panthers at Kraft Field on Saturday, in what could be the last home game for Tufts' four seniors.

The win ends a four game weekend losing streak and moves the Jumbos to 9-4 on the season (4-4, NESCAC) and into a tie with Middlebury for sixth place in the conference. However, if the playoffs started today, the Jumbos would earn the sixth seed because they hold the tiebreaker over the Panthers.

"We were absolutely awesome on Saturday," junior goalie Meg McCourt said. "We played fantastic, and came together and played like a team yesterday. We are peaking at the right time."

The Panthers, who were ranked fourth in New England heading into Saturday, were no match for Tufts this weekend.

"I was really happy with our intensity coming out," McCourt said. "I had a great feeling during warm-ups, and even in the locker room. Being the seniors' last game, [senior co-captains] Abby [Herzberg] and [Jess] Lovitz got together and motivated us really well."

The Jumbos controlled the game from the start, using everything they did in practice during the game to stun the Panthers.

"We defended pretty well as a team, and we won a lot of balls in the air," McCourt said. "We ran through balls and just played our own game, a really aggressive game."

Despite controlling the first half, the Jumbos were not able to find the net early on. But with 1:30 left in the first frame, the Jumbos earned a corner kick on the left corner of the Middlebury zone.

Sophomore Ariel Samuelson took the corner, and sent a lofted strike towards the middle of the box. The ball deflected off several players before classmate Sarah Callaghan gained control, and drilled it into the back of the net to give Tufts a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Jumbos continued their strong play through the second half. Despite focusing a little more on defense in the latter 45 minutes, Tufts was well aware that Middlebury's potent offense could strike at anytime.

In the 75th minute, the Jumbos got a much needed insurance goal, again, off a corner kick.

Samuelson struck another effective corner into the center of the box to a waiting junior Sarah Gelb. Gelb controlled the ball and sent a quick pass over to senior Jessica Trombly, who tore it into the back of the net to put Tufts up two with 15 minutes left in regulation.

Middlebury and top attacker Brittany Cronin would not go down without a fight. Cronin brought the Panthers within one on a Beckham-like bender into the top left corner of the net over a leaping Meg McCourt to put the score at 2-1.

However, the Jumbos were able to control the tempo of the game for the last five minutes and run out the clock for the victory.

The Jumbos are now looking to their final match of the season against the Colby White Mules, who currently sit at ninth in the conference. Barring a complete breakdown, the Jumbos should get past Colby to earn fifth place in the NESCAC, and will most likely face the Trinity Bantams in the first round of the playoffs the next day.

"[Coach] Martha [Whiting] said to the athletic department that if we beat Middlebury, watch out," McCourt said. "She's right; we have great momentum right now. The Keene game and this one are truly indicative of how we can play, and I have great faith that we are going to turn some heads."