Usually, if a team takes 12 times as many shots as its opponent, it is going to win. That was not the case last year when the women's field hockey team played Amherst, as the Jumbos outshot the Lord Jeffs 24-2 but yet lost 1-0.
So far this year, the Jumbos have taken 70 shots on goal to their opponents' 48, and the resulting 3-1 record has been more along the lines of what one would expect from such a disparity.
Tomorrow, Tufts will attempt to secure its second league win when it pays Amherst a visit and tries to reverse the outcome of last year's game. The Jumbos are looking to continue the momentum from Tuesday's 5-1 win over Gordon College and notch their first victory away from their home turf. Tufts lost at Middlebury 7-1 last Saturday.
"We practiced today on the grass and did a lot of shooting drills and worked on finishing on the cage," coach Tina McDavitt said. "I think our biggest problem will be their [grass] surface. I haven't seen Amherst play but I have a lot of confidence in our players."
The Lord Jeffs currently sit at 1-2 and thus will be looking to reach the .500 mark. Amherst lost 5-3 to Trinity in its only NESCAC league game so far. Junior Katherine Skrivan leads the Lord Jeffs with two points and two goals in three games.
So far, senior tri-captain Dana Panzer has lead the Jumbos with four goals and three assists in four games thus far. Senior Jennie Sachs, junior tri-captain Lea Napolitano, and sophomore Tracy Rittenour have also been major factors in the offense. On the other side of the field, sophomores Angela Rappoli and Marilyn Duffy-Cabana have split time in goal with each allowing four goals.
"I think it's important for us to bounce back on the road from the Middlebury game," McDavitt said. "The girls have confidence and I have confidence in them."
