MARGI SCHOLTES, FIELD HOCKEY
In the field hockey team's busiest league week of the season, sophomore midfielder Margi Scholtes came up big on both sides of the field.
In the Jumbos' 3-1 win over No. 15 Williams on Saturday, Scholtes set up the game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in the first period. Growing increasingly comfortable as the team's direct-shot player on penalty corners, Scholtes' rocket found senior co-captain Ileana Casellas-Katz, who scored for a team-leading 12th time this season. Scholtes' pass broke a 1-1 tie and put Tufts ahead to stay. The tally was one of two the Jumbos notched on an efficient and effective corner attack.
Scholtes also made her presence felt on the defensive end, where she was bore the brunt of guarding reigning NESCAC Player of the Year Meighan McGowan. Averaging nearly four shots per game heading into Saturday, McGowan was held to just two against the Jumbos to go along with one assist.
Saturday's effort was another strong performance in what has been the best season of Scholtes' young collegiate career. The Grosse Point, Mich. native, who didn't register a point in her rookie year, has eight this season thanks to a team-leading eight assists. After starting in two games her freshman season, Scholtes has appeared in the starting lineup for the Jumbos in all 12 of their contests in 2007.
Scholtes also notched an assist in the Jumbos' 2-0 win over Wesleyan on Wednesday, setting up junior Tess Jasinski in another cleanly executed penalty corner.
RYAN CRISCO, FOOTBALL
While the football team had a tough weekend, falling from the ranks of the undefeated with a sloppy 34-13 to defending-champion Williams, there was one standout performer who continued to make his presence known on the defensive side.
Junior linebacker Ryan Crisco had his second consecutive solid week for the Jumbos, recording a team-high 12 tackles in a losing effort. He also came up huge for Tufts last week in the team's 16-0 win over Trinity, recording a key interception of the Bantams' junior quarterback, Eric McGrath.
The junior was remarkably consistent against the Ephs Saturday, recording three tackles in each of the game's four quarters. Classmate Tyson Reynoso also had a huge day for the Jumbos' defense, recording seven tackles including 2.5 for losses.
Crisco and Reynoso have combined with senior Stephen Albertine to form one of the NESCAC's best linebacking cores this season. The trio has combined for 85 tackles this season, including 15 tackles for losses, five of them sacks.
