Tamara Brown, Field Hockey
Sophomore midfielder/forward Tamara Brown continued her assault on the Tufts field hockey program's record book on Saturday, racking up two more goals — including the game-winner — against Trinity to place her within one of the record for goals in a season, set by Ileana Casellas-Katz (LA '08) in 2007.
Brown's performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular. She has helped lead the nationally-ranked No. 5 Jumbos to a perfect 12-0 record, the best in school history, and her 17 scores have already far eclipsed the five goals she contributed during her rookie campaign. In addition, Brown is currently the third-leading goal-scorer in the NESCAC.
Against Trinity, Brown scored her second goal of the contest just two-and-a-half minutes into the overtime period and was the decisive factor in an otherwise deadlocked affair. Brown has been ruthlessly efficient with her scoring this season, converting on 28.3 percent of her shot attempts to lead the team. Brown's goal against the Bantams was her team-leading sixth game-winner this season.
After a non-conference game against Endicott tomorrow, Brown will lead the Jumbos into their final regular season NESCAC matchup on Friday, a decisive contest against a Bowdoin squad that is second in the conference behind Tufts and will determine who earns the right to host the NESCAC Tournament.
David Halas, Football
Despite a tough 24-17 loss to Amherst over the weekend, senior wide receiver David Halas had himself a banner day. He hauled in two of junior QB Anthony Fucillo's touchdown passes, one a 53-yard reception early in the third quarter to kick-start their comeback attempt and the other a 25-yard catch to pull the team within seven at 24-17.
With his stellar performance on Saturday — eight receptions for 168 yards — Halas now has eight touchdown catches on the season and has continued to extend the Jumbos' single-season record for touchdown receptions. He also recently broke the Jumbos' career touchdown reception record with 16 scoring catches posted throughout his Tufts tenure. With two games left in the season, Halas will likely continue to move well beyond the previous record of 12 catches.
So far this season, he has tallied 28 catches for 416 yards, good for a 14.9 yards-per-catch average. He also boasts a 69.3 receiving yards-per-game average, which ranks sixth in the NESCAC.
Halas will look to put a stamp on his outstanding Tufts career during his final two matchups wearing the brown and blue, when the Jumbos take the field against the two worst pass defenses in the NESCAC: Colby and Middlebury.
