Stephanie McNamara, Cross Country
This Saturday, freshman Stephanie McNamara's 30th-place finish in this weekend's 2007 Div. III Nationals made her the only freshman in the history of the Tufts women's cross country program to receive All-American honors. The previous mark held by a freshman in the event was a 75th-place finish by Norma Tranbarger (LA '90) in 1986. With a time of 22:07, McNamara came in right behind teammates senior tri-captains Katy O'Brien and Cat Beck, who finished 16th and 21st respectively.
After a solid regular-season debut, McNamara has been unstoppable this postseason. After placing 15th at NESCAC Championships on Oct. 27, McNamara followed up with a ninth-place showing at Regionals in New London, Conn. to earn an individual bid to Nationals.
This weekend's time was just two seconds slower than McNamara's time at Conn. College, which boasts an extremely flat course conducive to faster times. McNamara also continued to take down top NESCAC competitors this weekend who have beaten her in weeks past, including Amherst senior Kim Partee and Williams sophomore Olga Kondtrajeva.
Kurt Hertzog, Hockey
Senior forward Kurt Hertzog scored with just 32 seconds left in the third period of Friday's game against Williams to give Tufts a dramatic 3-2 win. The game appeared in the final seconds to be heading into extra time, but a face-off was called on Williams' end and a timeout was called by Tufts coach Brian Murphy. Just seconds after play began once again, Hertzog put the puck into an open net thanks to passes from freshman Andy Davis and senior tri-captain Ross Gimbel.
Early on, the Jumbos went up 2-0 in the season opener behind goals by junior Joe Milo and senior Matt Tosto. Williams then came back to tie the game with goals in the late second and third periods.
The dramatic deciding goal earned Tufts its first season-opening win and its first NESCAC victory over Williams in five years. The Jumbos now hold a 1-1 record on the young season, after falling to Middlebury 5-1 on Saturday.
Hertzog had six goals and 12 assists last year, ranking fourth on the team in points. After Friday's goal, the Tufts senior now has 23 points in his career, putting him in sixth out of all current Jumbos.
