There's no place like home, apparently, for the field hockey team. Despite the Jumbos' struggle to win a single conference game on the road, they have consistently dominated on their own turf and hope to continue their three-game winning streak at home when they face off against the Bates Bobcats tomorrow at 1 p.m.
The Jumbos, 3-2 overall and 1-2 in NESCAC play, prefer facing their opponents on the brand new turf of Tufts' Bello Field. Coach Tina McDavitt feels that playing at home, where the Jumbos have yet to lose this season, will be a determining factor for the team in tomorrow's game.
"We are stronger when we are playing on our own turf," McDavitt said. "When we play on different astroturf or grass, we have to adjust to it, which takes away from our game."
Bates' home field is also astroturf, so the Bobcats don't have to worry about switching to a slower grass surface when they play at Tufts. However, road games have proven to be troublesome for the 3-3 Bobcats, who have not produced a win off of their home field.
Tommorow's game will mark McDavitt's first homecoming weekend as a Jumbo, something she is very excited about.
"I'm really excited because we have a few of our recruits coming to watch us play, and a lot of the alumni are coming back," McDavitt said. "I'm excited to meet the alumni and it'll be a good opportunity to start networking with them."
McDavitt was quick to point out, however, that despite playing in front of former teammates and captains, her players will not likely be any more ready for this game than any other weekend contest.
"The girls are pumped every weekend because every weekend we have a NESCAC game," she said. "They know the importance of the game and while they are excited to play in front of former teammates this weekend, I would hope that they are just as pumped for every game we play."
Tufts easily defeated the Bobcats when the teams met at Bates last year. Two of the Jumbos' current tri-captains, juniors Lea Napolitano and Jeanne Grabowski, each contributed a goal to the 3-1 win.
In 2003, the struggling Bobcats finished the season with only two victories and lost all of their nine conference games. This season however, things are looking up. The team, which is 1-1 in NESCAC play, has already produced more wins in the first half of this season than they earned all of last season.
With only three juniors and three seniors returning from their 2003 roster, the Bobcats are a young team. Junior Sarah Judice and sophomore Sarah Sprague, who have split time as goalkeeper, play aggressive defense in the net and have made 47 saves combined. Sophomore Liz Greenwood leads the team offensively with three goals and one assist in six games.
Heading into last night's game against Babson, Jumbos senior tri-captain Dana Panzer has led the squad thus far with her active offensive play. Panzer has scored five of the team's 12 total goals and through five games she has taken 32 shots, 20 more than any other Jumbo. Senior Jennie Sachs, who has scored two goals, and Napolitano are also clutch offensive players. The Jumbos still have had trouble finishing and scoring inside the box, however, which McDavitt cited as two of the major goals of this week's practice.
"We've been working on finishing our shots and developing new passing patterns inside the box," McDavitt said. "The girls have looked very good in practice and if they play as well as they have in practice in the game, we'll be fine."
Defensively, Tufts has allowed its opponents to score 10 goals in five games and the goalkeepers, sophomores Angela Rappoli and Marilyn Duffy-Cabana, have 23 combined saves.
The Bobcats and the Jumbos have faced two common opponents thus far this season, the Amherst Lord Jeffs and the Gordon Scots, with each team falling to Amherst and defeating Gordon. The Jumbos were much more competitive against the Lord Jeffs, however, losing a nail-biter 2-1 in overtime, while the Bobcats were blown out 4-0 by the Jeffs. Furthermore, the Jumbos dominated the Scots 5-1 last week at home, while the Bobcats struggled to a 1-0 win on a goal scored early in the game on a penalty corner.
"We're really pumped for the game," Grabowski said. "We're undefeated on our home field and we hope to keep it that way. We're ready to step up and win this Saturday."
