Saturday's 1-0 loss to Trinity was not only Tufts' first NESCAC loss of the season, but it also ended the race for regular-season perfection between the Jumbos and the Williams Ephs.
Prior to this weekend, Williams and Tufts were knotted in a first-place tie with 6-0 records, but the Ephs' 4-0 victory over Middlebury on Saturday assured them sole possession of the top spot in the league for at least a week.
Although Tufts dropped its first conference game this weekend, Saturday's showdown at Williams will still hold the same level of importance. A Tufts win will likely give the Jumbos the regular-season crown and grant them the right to host the NESCAC Tournament, which starts Oct. 28.
"They've been playing so well," senior Lauren Fedore said. "They're going to be a formidable opponent, but we have to win in order to win the NESCAC conference [regular-season title]. We obviously have to come out and give it everything we have."
Certainly, beating the Ephs on their home turf is easier said than done.
"I've been around this program since 1989, and I don't remember us winning on that field ever," coach Martha Whiting said. "It's just another little bit of incentive for us to win this week and jump a few hurdles ... we've tied, but we have not beat them there in a while.
"It should just fire us up a little more," Whiting continued. "Rather than letting that scare us, we look at it as a great challenge, so it should be fun."
"Coming into the weekend, both teams had separated themselves from the pack. Williams was ranked No. 6 in the country, while Tufts came in at No. 16; no other NESCAC team made the top 25, and the teams trailing behind the two powerhouses - Trinity, Middlebury, Amherst and Bowdoin - were far away in the rearview mirror with three wins apiece.
"Although Amherst, Trinity and Bowdoin all picked up another win this weekend, the regular-season title is still in Williams' and Tufts' hands - and the Jumbos are aware.
"Williams is going to be a huge game," senior Joelle Emery said. "A lot is going to be determined by it. Obviously we really need to beat them, so we're just going to have a really intense week of practice and just come out flying and take it to them."
