The women's soccer team was handed two days of less than ideal weather conditions this weekend, but the Jumbos did what they could.
In a horrible downpour on Saturday, the Jumbos defeated the Conn. College Camels 3-2 to finish the regular season in second place with a record of 9-3-2 (6-1-2 NESCAC).
Not even 24 hours later, they were back at Bello Field, and this time they fell in an overtime heartbreaker to NESCAC foe Bates. Bates senior forward Mary Bucci scored the game-winning goal, her second of the game, in the Bobcats' 2-1 win in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament, bouncing the Jumbos from the tournament and making an at-large NCAA bid the Jumbos' only chance of continued postseason play.
Almost halfway into the 10-minute overtime period, Bucci sent the ball in the air sailing through the wind, which plagued the Jumbos throughout the game, and it eventually floated past senior tri-captain goalie Annie Ross for Bucci's second goal of the game. Bucci's shot from about 30 yards out, her second goal of the game, ended the Jumbos' hopes of a 2006 NESCAC championship.
The team playing into the wind had had a severe handicap yesterday, and the Bobcats took advantage early in the first half when Bucci headed the ball into the net in a scramble after a corner kick. In the first half, the Bobcats had the clear offensive advantage, leading in both shots and corner kicks, 10-3 and 8-2 respectively.
The flip-side of the weather was obvious in the second half, as the Jumbos led the Bobcats in all offensive categories with the wind at their backs. They dominated in shots, 15-0, and corners, 6-0. Although they had several chances, the Jumbos were not able to find the back of the net until the clock dipped under five minutes and late-game urgency set in.
When the wind literally blew over Bates sophomore goalkeeper Mia Lidofsky, the Jumbos were awarded a corner kick. Junior Martha Furtek placed the ball beautifully for fellow classmate Lauren Fedore, who headed the ball into the net to tie the game.
The weather made one final impact on the game when the Bobcats won the coin toss for the overtime, and the Jumbos once again had to play with the wind in their faces.
"The wind was a huge factor," coach Martha Whiting said. "Both teams scored with the wind; no goals were scored against the wind. It's one of those things where if we'd won the coin toss, things may have been different."
"The wind totally neutralized the play today," Ross added. "It didn't let the better team show. The entire game was determined by the wind, because you couldn't do anything [against it]. We don't like to blame it on that, because we know it was the same for both teams, but there is no other way to say it."
The Jumbos have a history with the Bobcats, losing last year's NESCAC championship game 2-1 in double overtime. The Jumbos were able to avenge their loss in the regional championship when they came out on top 1-0 and did so again when the two teams met in the regular-season NESCAC schedule this year, when Tufts edged Bates, 1-0.
"The older kids on the team definitely know the rivalry," Whiting said. "But a third of our team is new, so seven of these girls have no idea what kind of rivalry this is. These close games will continue for sure."
On Saturday against the Conn. College Camels, junior Jessie Wagner was the hero for the second game in a row, as she put the Jumbos on top with her second goal of the season early in the second half. Wagner's goal, along with goals by junior Lauren Fedore and sophomore Abby Werner, gave the Jumbos the edge they needed to notch a 3-2 win over the Camels and clinch a No. 2 seed in Sunday's first round.
"We were really battling the elements on Saturday," Whiting said of the weather, which included torrential rain and gale-force winds. "We took out most of our starters to give them a little bit of rest for Sunday's game."
The weather cancelled the Bobcats' last regular season game on Saturday, and they finished the season tied with Bowdoin. Because Bowdoin had beaten Bates earlier in the season, Bowdoin clinched the sixth seed while Bates fell to seventh, pitting them against the Jumbos in the first round of the tournament.
Despite the unexpected exit for her team, Whiting was still pleased with her team's effort on Sunday.
"I have never seen a team work harder," Whiting said. "They just never gave up. I am really, really proud, and I hope they realize how great they are."
Bates now advances to play top-seeded Amherst Saturday at Amherst. The Jumbos are now banking on their slim chance of receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, hoping their 9-4-2 record and midseason 9-1 run will be enough to impress the NCAA selection committee.
