It hasn't been a good week for the women's field hockeyteam.
The Jumbos, 5-4 and 2-3 NESCAC, were shutout by the BentleyFalcons 2-0 at home yesterday, after losing a conference game toBowdoin 1-0 on Saturday.
The loss marked the second straight shutout for the team andended Tufts' four-game winning streak at home, although it did notcount towards their NESCAC record because Bentley is not aconference opponent.
The Falcons, on the other hand, continued a few of its ownwinning streaks. Bentley, 15-1 and tied for fourth nationally inDiv. II, has won its past 14 games, all of its six road games, andall six games against Tufts since 1999.
The Falcons dominated the game from the start. They pressed theJumbos' defense and took 13 shots in the first half, compared toone by Tufts that came late in the half.
Both of the Falcons' goals were scored in the first half.Sophomore Amanda Deppe put one in the net 9:40 into the game, andfreshman Heather Buda widened the lead when she scored towards theend of the first half.
Both goals were off of assists from sophomore LindseyHarrington
The momentum shifted in the second half, when the Jumbos putforth an offensive effort and started to look more like the teamthat had scored at least a single goal in its first seven games ofthe season.
The Jumbos took 15 second-half shots, compared to seven byBentley, and required the Falcon goalkeeper, sophomore KristinJohnson, to make nine saves to earn her second shutout of theseason.
Bentley's defense has only allowed four goals after halftime inthe sixteen games they've played this season.
"We've been putting pressure on the other team," coach TinaMcDavitt said. "But we're not putting the ball in the net."
The Jumbos' goalkeepers, sophomores Marilyn Duffy-Cabana andAngela Rappoli, split time in the net. Duffy-Cabana allowed bothBentley goals but made four saves, and Rappoli racked up two savesin the second half.
McDavitt remains optimistic despite the losses the team sufferedthis week.
"Even though we've lost, they've been to two really good teams,"said McDavitt, referring also to last Saturday's loss at Bowdoin."As a coach, I feel that it's very promising. The girls have a goodattitude and they're working really hard and are continuing to getbetter and better, even if the score is not reflecting it."
Tomorrow, the Jumbos will have a chance to bounce back fromtheir back-to-back shutouts when they face the Trinity Bantams(6-3, 3-2 NESCAC) in Connecticut.
A victory at Trinity would mark the Jumbos' first conferenceroad win, and they need a NESCAC win to improve their record,currently 2-3. The Jumbos haven't won a conference game sincebeating Bates 3-0 on Oct. 2.
Both the Jumbos and the Bantams defeated NESCAC opponent Colby,and the Bantams defeated another conference opponent, Amherst,which defeated Tufts in overtime.
Trinity's best offensive player, senior forward Jessica Baker,was named the NESCAC Player of the Week on Oct. 11.
She put two in the net in the Bantam's 4-2 win at ConnecticutCollege and scored all three goals, including the overtime winner,in Trinity's 3-2 win over Eastern Connecticut.
Baker has proven to be a tremendous offensive force and leadsboth her team and, more impressively, the league, with 12 goals andan average of 1.33 goals per game.
Senior Patricia Glennon has scored three goals and leads theteam with four assists. Junior Courtney Bergh is the only Bantamgoalkeeper to put in time this season, and she has let in 18 goalsbut saved 59.
The Jumbos will look for a strong performance from seniortri-captain Dana Panzer, who has led the team offensively with ninegoals and five assists.
A strong effort from tri-captain Lea Napolitano, who has twogoals and four assists, could also be a key factor in a victory forTufts this Saturday. The Jumbos' defense will also have to be sharpto prevent Baker from scoring.
According to McDavitt, earning a NESCAC win this Saturday isimportant but not the team's primary concern.
"The NESCAC record is always in the back of your head," McDavittsaid. "But the focus is to win every game. We're taking it one gameat a time. We do want to win and get into the tournament, and Ithink we definitely have the ability to that."
