Tufts looks to halt two-game NESCAC losing streak against Trinity

The women's soccer team has not lost three straight NESCAC games in over five years, and it has no intentions of breaking that streak any time soon.

After losing to Bates and Bowdoin over the past two weekends, the sixth place Jumbos look to come out strong tomorrow against the Trinity Bantams, who currently sit in a logjam with four other teams in a tie for second place.

Last season, the Jumbos dominated the Bantams on a rainy, muddy Saturday in Hartford, and Tufts looks to emulate such a performance tomorrow.

"I think it is important for us to come out strong against Trinity," junior Sarah Gelb said. "Although we beat them last year, they are playing pretty well against some tough teams and we can't afford to underestimate them."

The Jumbos will look to their strikers, junior Jen Baldwin and senior Jess Trombly, for offensive support, as they have so often in the past. Despite switching back and forth between midfield and striker, Baldwin did what she does best in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Brandeis, notching two goals and an assist. She now has a team-leading 16 points on the season. Trombly also had a goal and an assist, upping her point total to 12, good for second best.

"I think both Jen and Jess are both amazing players who add a lot of speed and skill to our offense," Gelb said. "They work really well together to create a lot of scoring opportunities for us as a team."

Tufts will also look to sophomore Sarah Callaghan, whose goal against Brandeis gave her seven points on the year (3G, 1A), and senior Becca Doigan for offense, especially when Baldwin and Trombly move to the midfield.

The biggest concern for Tufts this weekend will most likely be its depleted midfield. The Jumbos have been trying numerous combinations in the midfield due to the quitting of junior Lindsey Wolejko and sophomore Michelle Gauvin, and injuries to sophomores Lindsay Garmirian and Lydia Claudio.

In addition, defensive center midfielder Alina Schmidt took a shot to her knee against Brandeis on Tuesday and is questionable for the game.

While Garmirian will most likely see action this weekend after sitting out against Brandeis, the team has still been forced to make a lot of changes and try out new formations in the middle. Coach Martha Whiting's most recent and effective change thus far has been playing Baldwin at center midfielder and alternating Trombly between forward and midfield, while starting Callaghan at forward in Baldwin's spot.

"We've definitely had our share of obstacles in the midfield and are still trying to find the right combination of people to fill the positions," Gelb said. "But the important thing is that we have complete confidence that every player on the team can play in any position and do a good job."

The Jumbos' defense and keeper Meg McCourt will need to be on top of their game for Tufts to be successful, as Trinity has scored 18 goals this season in just eight games played. The backline will be especially wary of senior captain Kate Salottolo, the NESCAC player of the week two weeks ago, who leads the team with five goals scored, and junior forward Nicole Mauger, who leads all Bantams with an unruly eight assists already on the year.

In practice, Tufts isn't doing anything out of the ordinary, but the squad will certainly focus on the same things that it has all season: keeping high intensity start to finish and scoring goals.

"I think we are focusing on all aspects of our game, moving together as a group, communicating, finishing shots and our intensity," junior Becky Greenstein said. "We have really good chemistry as a team and all want the best for each other, and as long as we play together and with heart we should be fine."

Kickoff for the game is at 11 a.m. Saturday morning at Kraft Field.