When the 2008 Pan American Games kick off today in San Juan, Argentina, Tufts field hockey coach Tina McDavitt will be absent from the USA's indoor field hockey lineup.
The tournament will run from today through Nov. 23, but McDavitt has other plans for this weekend: a trip to Tufts' first-ever Final Four at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Penn.
While McDavitt, who was part of a team that took silver in the 2005 games, would love to help fight for the gold this year, the Jumbos will be taking on national No. 1 Messiah on Saturday and, if they advance, the victor of a Bowdoin-versus-Ursinus clash on Sunday.
"It's tough not to be able to go play and represent the U.S., but this is more important to me," McDavitt said.
McDavitt made the tradeoff gladly, as her No. 1 priority is to see the Jumbos' historic season through to its end -- with sights set squarely on Tufts' first-ever Div. III team national championship title.
"I was joking before the season started that no matter what happens, this is going to be a good weekend for me -- I'd either be in the Final Four or at the Pan Ams," McDavitt said. "I was prepared for that before we played [Sunday's regional game against TCNJ]. I was like, 'I just hope we win -- I'm not ready to go to the Pan Ams. Mentally, I'm in Tufts field hockey mode, and that's where I want to be.'"
McDavitt, named to the 12-member team in July after trying out with 72 other players in April, struck a balance between her own training and the team's busy schedule, even finding time to make a number of trips down to Philadelphia to practice with other members of the Pan Am team.
"I've been training since February," McDavitt said. "I was just working on it all week during the week lifting and running and working on the weekends. Lots of times after Saturday games I just went home, showered, got in the car and went down to Philly for practice," McDavitt said. "The girls on the indoor team with me would wait for me. I'd get my bag, drive six hours to Pennsylvania, have a six-hour practice on Sunday and drive back."
And while she may be missing this year's games, she plans to be back in action in the near future.
"I'll definitely try out next time," McDavitt said. "Next year is the World Cup. If they win the gold, we will qualify and then I would try out and hopefully make the World Cup team."
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