It is often said that the five minutes after you score a goal are the most important five minutes of the game.
Unfortunately, the women's soccer team learned that the hard way Saturday, fighting to a 1-1 tie against the Colby White Mules to open the 2004 NESCAC season.
"I feel like the girls played extremely hard today," coach Martha Whiting said. "Every single one got out there, and everyone really gave it all they had."
The Jumbos, who certainly appeared to be the more cohesive and skilled team of the two, were unable to capitalize on several opportunities in the second half and in both ten minute overtime sessions en-route to the 1-1 stalemate.
Colby came out strong at the start of the game, controlling possession for the first 12 minutes, rarely surrendering the ball on its own half of the field. Led by last year's NESCAC Rookie of the Year, sophomore Laura Williamson, the Mules were able to slip through the Jumbo midfield, but senior keeper Meg McCourt and her back four were able to contain any threats near the goal.
The Jumbos then took over the game in the 14th minute, when sophomore Kim Harrington took a cross from the midfield and nearly snuck one past Colby senior keeper Liz Riley. On the ensuing possession, Tufts freshman Martha Furtek sent a cross through the center of the box, but no Jumbo was there to capitalize.
Finally, in the 24th minute, the Jumbos tallied a goal when senior Jen Baldwin hooked up with classmate and co-captain Sarah Gelb. Gelb beat a slower defender and sent a low shot past Riley to give Tufts a 1-0 lead.
However, Tufts seemed to have a defensive let down after the goal. Just 1:49 later, the Jumbos were unable to clear the ball, and, in a scramble in front of the net, Williamson corralled the ball and sent a pass to freshman Meggie Herlihy, who drilled the ball past a hesitant McCourt for the goal.
After the goal, Tufts was able to adjust to the Mules style of play and kept the ball on the attacking side of the field for the remainder of the game. In contrast to Tufts' more team-oriented attack, Colby seemed to clear the ball on defense and send it up to Williamson, hoping that she would be able to create a goal for herself. However, the back four, namely senior center fullback Catherine Benedict and sophomore sweeper Jen Fratto were able to disrupt Williamson with tough, immediate pressure as soon as she touched the ball.
"At first, [Williamson] was able to get through our back four," Whiting said. "But we eventually adjusted, and I thought Fratto did great at really frustrated her, getting up on her back every time she touched the ball."
"Together, our back four is a strong, cohesive unit," McCourt said. "[Sophomore] Jackie [Thomas] and Fratto played very well for being rookies in our back four lineup. Cat [Benedict] played a phenomenal game and was a strong physical presence in the backfield. When you have two of your backs walking off the field bleeding at the end of the game, you know you played tough."
Both teams created several scoring opportunities for themselves in the second half and through both overtimes, with Tufts being led by speedy junior halfback Lindsay Garmirian, who had numerous shots on the net. However, Riley held her own in goal, making some incredible saves to preserve the tie and keep the Jumbos in check.
Whiting used all of her players in the season opener, with first year players Harrington, Furtek, and forward Lauren Fedore seeing a lot of action. Harrington started the game at left forward in place of injured junior Sarah Callaghan, who pulled her hamstring last week in practice, with Fedore frequently subbing in for both Harrington and Baldwin.
"I didn't go in expecting to use everyone, but it was our first game of the season and we're still building up our fitness," Whiting said.
Furtek played the majority of the game at offensive center halfback, looking surprisingly comfortable replacing junior Lydia Claudio who is still getting over a stress fracture in her foot that has severely shortened her last two seasons.
"Lydia's fitness isn't where she wants it to be right now, so we're trying to ease her back into the lineup," Whiting said. "Martha really jumped right in there, she's a very talented player. Not only does she have great skills, but she really hustles out there."
The major issue the Jumbos will be looking to work out this week in practice is their transition from defense to offense.
"We definitely need to work on getting the ball to the forwards faster and capitalizing inside the 18," senior co-captain Sarah Gelb said. "We have the intensity; we just need to be a little bit quicker."
In addition, the team needs to work on keeping up the intensity level right after they score a goal, but according to Whiting, that is not something that can be taught.
"We just have to be more focused," Whiting said. "We say it all the time, but its something you can't really teach, it has to come from within and eventually it will."
The Jumbos will look to work on these and other aspects of the game in a non-conference bout at Wheaton College on Wednesday in preparation for the squad's first NESCAC road match up against Middlebury next Saturday.
