Tufts season comes to disappointing close

Last season, the women's soccer team dominated almost every team in the NESCAC during the regular season, earning the first seed in the conference playoffs and eventually going on to win their first ever conference championship.

This year however, things were a little different. The team fought through numerous obstacles to sneak into the playoffs as the seventh and final seed. But to Tufts, that meant nothing.

The squad was coming off two of its biggest wins of the season over the non-conference Keene State Owls -- the team that knocked them out of last year's NCAA tournament -- and the high scoring Middlebury Panthers going into the playoffs. This gave Tufts what seemed to be all the momentum they would need to succeed heading into November.

However, the season came to a disappointing close 120 minutes after kickoff against second seeded Amherst. The Jumbos fell 4-2 on penalty kicks after 110 minutes of scoreless play.

"We left everything we had on the field on Sunday," senior co-captain Abby Herzberg said. "That's all we can ask of ourselves. Sometimes, things just don't go your way I guess."

The loss marked the end of the careers for Tufts' four seniors, Jessica Trombly, Becca Doigan, and co-captains Herzberg and Jessica Lovitz.

"Soccer has been the most consistently positive thing I have done over the past four (and 18) years," Herzberg said. "It has been pretty much the most important thing in my life at Tufts. There is competition, huge wins and heartbreaking losses, but also amazing friendships that are irreplaceable."

Despite their early exit, the Jumbos were proud of the way they played all season in fighting through the hard times.

"I am so proud of our team, so proud to be a part of this team and the whole program," Herzberg said. "We have so much talent, drive and heart that it is really hard to sit here feeling like we could have gone all the way. But I am so proud of how we played throughout the season and especially this Sunday."

Junior Sarah Gelb echoed Herzberg's sentiments.

"Overall our season was really successful," Gelb said. "We overcame multiple adversities, beat some of the top ranked teams in New England, and avenged the loss to Keene State. Most importantly, by the end of the season we came together as a team, playing with heart, intensity, skill and cohesiveness. Our last game showed how much we improved throughout the course of the season."

The 2003 season was one filled with highs and lows. The victory against Keene State and the final game of the season against Amherst were the two best games the Jumbos played all season.

"I had never seen us play so composed before like we did against Amherst," junior Becky Greenstein said. "We worked as a team and everything we had ever worked on in practice came together. Our defense was extremely strong and despite not scoring, our offense created many opportunities."

In addition, the team's chemistry increased tremendously from last season, and continued to grow as the year went on.

"I love my team," sophomore Ariel Samuelson said. "On and off the field we always have a great time together, whether it be juggling before practice or spending time together at team dinners and before games."

However, with the high points come certain low points as well. The team had to fight through injuries to almost its entire midfield, in addition to two girls quitting for personal reasons.

"Any change like that disrupts the team," Greenstein said. "However we dealt with them superbly and it almost just brought everyone closer together."

At times, like in years past, the Jumbos also had difficulty putting the ball in the back of the net and winning games that they should have won.

"In a league like ours sometimes you need a little luck because all the teams are so good, and in some of our games, the luck just didn't come our way," Greenstein said.

Throughout the entire season, Tufts was led by its four seniors.

"All four of our seniors have had a huge impact on this program. They played every game with heart, leadership, composure and talent and motivated the rest of us to do the same," Gelb said. "All of them are amazing players, and we are definitely going to miss them next year."

Trombly is the active all time leading scorer for the Jumbos with 58 points on 22 goals and 14 assists in 70 games played. She was tied for second on the team this year with 14 points (6G, 2A), switching between the forward and midfield spots.

Doigan was the 11th player for Tufts this year, consistently coming off the bench to provide a spark for the Jumbos with her speed and smart play. She was sixth on the team with six points, and ends her career with 23 (8G, 7A).

Lovitz and Herzberg, the two captains, were the backbone of a Tufts defense that has consistently been one of the best in the NESCAC. The duo led the team through its adversities and still managed to contribute to five shutouts on the season, including a stretch at the beginning of the year when they let just one goal get past them in five games.

"I was so happy to play next to Abby and Lovitz this year," Samuelson said. "Not only are they great players, but amazing leaders too. They were the anchor of the team, and both our defense and our team would not have done as well without them."