Coming off their biggest offensive day of the year - a 5-1 win over non-conference UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday that saw the team's highest shot and goal totals of the year - it was the Jumbos' defense that provided the spark on Saturday.
The Tufts backfield faced the highest-scoring offense in the league in the Bantams, and the Jumbos responded with key defensive saves and wide clears that kept Trinity out of the circle and off the board.
"A huge part of defense is mental," junior fullback Marlee Kutcher said. "We can't expect everything to be perfect, but we can adjust with communication and knowing when to push up and fall back. As a unit, we're starting to hold ourselves to higher standards, to the point where we know that we can and should shut down a team like Trinity."
Kutcher and sophomore fullback Emma Kozumbo held strong in front of freshman goalie Katie Hyder, whose nine saves included a sliding save in the first half that broke up a one-on-one.
"All three of them - Marlee, Emma and Katie - had great, great games," coach Tina McDavitt said. "They were working well together and they were focusing on getting possession of the ball and moving it quickly without any hesitation."
Kutcher came up with a key on-the-line stick save in the second half, stopping a Trinity goal that would have tied the game at one.
"Marlee anticipates the play really well," McDavitt said. "We've been talking about her coming in and intercepting and stepping up to the ball before the other team does. She has great instincts."
The offense coming at Kutcher, Kozumbo and Hyder had the league's best numbers. Karli Del Rossi was NESCAC's top scorer with 11 heading into the weekend, but the junior ran into a strong Tufts defense armed with a game plan and looking for its fourth shutout in seven games.
"We talked about [Del Rossi] and about sandwiching her - having someone in front of her to block her from receiving the ball and someone behind her, right there on her, if she did," McDavitt said.
The Jumbos are reaping the rewards of their new on-field formation. The 3-2-3-2 system has essentially added another player to the offense and defense, creating five-person units that move with increased flexibility.
"I think that it helps that we have a lot of layers to our setup," Hyder said. "It's harder for the ball to get past us and people do a good job of knowing when to step in."
