With a do-or-die match-up against Connecticut College tomorrow, the women's lacrosse team is looking to sharpen its play, get a victory, and move on to the program's first playoff appearance in three years.
Although they fell 14-10 to Amherst on Wednesday, the Jumbos (3-5 NESCAC, 6-5 overall) actually gained ground in the NESCAC standings and saw their potential playoff picture get a little clearer, after moving into sole possession of sixth place thanks to Colby and Trinity losses. The Jumbos control their own destiny; if Tufts wins tomorrow, it is guaranteed a spot in the seven-team postseason tournament.
A NESCAC game document last week printed in error printed that a win for Tufts' in their match-up last Saturday against Colby guaranteed the Jumbos a shot at the playoffs, a game which Tufts won decisively, 12-5. That statement was premature, and has now been changed on the NESCAC website to say that Tufts "had to win" for a playoff appearance, which is also incorrect. There was the possibility that if Trinity lost its two final games, the Jumbos were still in the tournament, regardless of last Saturday's game.
Although important, Tufts' win over Colby couldn't guarantee them a spot because Wesleyan and Trinity were set to match-up against one another, and each had identical 3-4 NESCAC records. Wesleyan won its game with Trinity on Tuesday 14-10, resulting in a three-team logjam in sixth place between Tufts, Trinity, and Colby, one of whom won't make the seven-team cut.
However, if the Jumbos lose tomorrow to Connecticut College they still have a legitimate shot at the tournament. If either Trinity or Colby loses, regardless of the score in the Tufts-Connecticut College game, the Jumbos are tournament-bound. Although Tufts, Colby, and Trinity each have identical 3-5 records in-conference, the Jumbos beat Colby last Saturday 12-5, and dropped Trinity 10-8 on March 27 to give them the edge in the head-to-head tie-breaker.
Trinity and Colby face off against Bowdoin and Wesleyan respectively, who are in a two-way tie for fourth place with one another. The Jumbos, who lost their regular-season games to Bowdoin (7-8) and Wesleyan (8-9), would be interested in a rematch with either Bowdoin or Wesleyan if Tufts makes the tournament.
"We wouldn't mind seeing either of them again," coach Carol Rappoli said. "With any luck at all, we have five wins. We had those two freak losses, and those games [against Bowdoin and Wesleyan] were definitely winnable."
However, if they make the tournament, Tufts would not play either Bowdoin or Wesleyan until the second round, because Tufts will find itself facing either undefeated Middlebury, Amherst (7-1), or Williams (7-1) in the first round, all of whom beat the Jumbos earlier this year.
In tomorrow's match up against Connecticut College, Tufts will find itself facing off against the league's worst offense, entering play with the fewest goals scored of any NESCAC team, only 53 on the year. Tufts' defense, on the other hand, is ranked fourth in the NESCAC.
Connecticut College also currently ranks second to last with a 1-7 record against NESCAC opponents. Its only victory was against Bates, the league's worst team who has an 0-8 mark in league play and faces off Middlebury on Saturday, in a match-up of the league's reciprocating perfect records.
Rappoli is confident in her squad.
"We're a young team, a lot better now than a year ago at this point," Rappoli continued. "We're in control of our own destiny."
