Before the No. 9 field hockey team traveled to Colby Saturday, no one thought the 0-3 Mules would be much of a challenge for the Jumbos. But after a scoreless first half, it was Colby that struck first and, suddenly, Tufts found itself on the wrong side of a 1-0 game.
After junior forward Lia Sagerman scored the equalizer with just over eight minutes left, senior co-captain midfielder Lindsay Griffith came up with the late-game heroics for the Jumbos and slammed the winning goal home with 2:07 left on the clock.
Tufts got out to a slow start in its first road game of 2011, playing even with Colby throughout the first half. The Jumbos fired off only eight shots compared to the Mules' four, and each team surrendered two penalty corners. Though they were playing on a faster surface than their home field, Tufts' attack struggled to use the speed to its advantage. The Jumbos headed to the bench at the intermission looking for answers to an unexpectedly strong Colby defense.
"We probably underestimated them," Griffith said. "They put up a really good fight and proved they are a team to be taken seriously in the future."
"I think it was a good learning experience coming from behind," sophomore forward Chelsea Yogerst added. "All NESCAC teams are really good and we were reminded of that Saturday."
Just seven minutes past the half, Colby proved how serious they were as they beat senior goalkeeper Marianna Zak for the 1-0 lead. The goal served as a wake-up call for the Jumbos, though, as the visitors took over the momentum for the rest of the game. Finally looking like the top-10 team it is, Tufts attacked Colby with 14 shots and nine penalty corners in the second period. And, looking desperate but composed, the Jumbos eventually got the job done.
"We knew we were in the game, it just wasn't translating on the scoreboard," Griffith said. "So we kept pushing and were able to get two key goals and keep it from going into overtime."
For the tying goal, freshman midfielder Maggie Chapman weaved her way into Colby's circle and sent the ball to junior forward Lia Sagerman, who found the back of the cage with 8:10 remaining. Six minutes later, the offense again found itself deep in Colby's zone and earned a penalty corner. Though the initial shot was blocked, Griffith collected the rebound and put it home for the late 2-1 edge. Tufts' defense held off Colby's threats to tie, and the Jumbos walked off slightly rattled by the close call but with another win added to their four-game streak.
"It was our first game on the road and the first game of the season on AstroTurf," Griffith said. "There were a lot of variables on Saturday but we need to learn to not let that affect us. We played pretty frustrated, but we're taking it as a learning experience. At the end of the day, a win's a win and we're moving forward."
Tufts will have to shake it off and look ahead, too, as the Jumbos have three games in the next six days — two against ranked opponents. Tomorrow, Tufts will travel to non-conference foe Wellesley for, hopefully, a repeat of last year's 6-0 blowout.
"We're really excited for Wellesley," Griffith said. "Mid-week games have been tough for us in the past so we're getting really pumped up for it."
The Jumbos will need to get pumped and score early, because they can hardly afford another grueling contest heading into the weekend doubleheader against NESCAC heavyweights. The team is focused on the present but is aware that things will need to improve before Saturday's trip to No. 12 Amherst, which will be followed by a battle on Bello Field with No. 15 Trinity on Sunday.
"This weekend we learned we need to stay focused on every single opponent," Yogerst said. "All we can do is take it one game at a time."
