With the NESCAC playoffs looming this weekend for Tufts' fall sports teams, Jumbos everywhere are looking to get in one last tune-up before postseason play.
Yesterday, two teams proved that they were ready to go.
The field hockey team cruised to an easy 5-0 victory over Endicott on Bello Field yesterday afternoon, improving to 5-0 in the last two weeks and 10-3 overall, and the men's soccer team followed suit with a 1-0 squeaker over New England College in the nightcap. Both teams now turn their focus to their regular-season finales at Conn. College Saturday.
The field hockey team got five goals from four scorers, including a successful penalty stroke from junior Brittany Holiday to start off the scoring, and coasted to the win over the non-conference Gulls.
Sophomore Amanda Russo, this week's NESCAC Player of the Week, scored a beautiful second-chance goal on a turnaround in front of the cage, senior Jennie Williamson got her first collegiate goal after 44 starts for the Jumbos, and leading scorer and senior co-captain Ileana Casellas-Katz tacked her 13th goal of the season off a pass from sophomore Margi Scholtes, who notched her team-best ninth assist of the season.
The Jumbos only needed one save from freshman Katie Hyder in net, as they held a 24-2 advantage in shots over the Gulls, who dropped to 9-5 with the loss.
As for men's soccer, the Jumbos scored the game's lone goal in the 34th minute, blanking the visiting Pilgrims to improve to 5-7-1 on the season. Freshman defenseman Naji Muakkassa did the honors, scoring his first career goal with assists from senior Kevin Anglin and sophomore Dan Schoening.
The Jumbos have now gotten five of their last eight goals from freshmen, as Muakkassa and classmate Alex Lach have both come into their own in recent weeks.
The Tufts offense was relentless all night, controlling the ball and out-shooting the Pilgrims 15-8. Sophomore Pat Tonelli, making a rare start in goal, only needed two saves to cruise to the shutout.
Field hockey takes on Conn. College in New London at noon in Saturday's NESCAC finale; men's soccer follows suit with a 1:30 start.
See tomorrow's Daily for further coverage.
