On Tuesday, the field hockey team hit the road for its final game of the regular season against Bowdoin College. Entering the matchup at No. 1, Tufts held an 8–1 conference record compared to Bowdoin’s 5–4 mark. Both teams were among the three NESCAC squads to defeat reigning Division III Champion Middlebury College.
The Polar Bears started the game with possession at midfield, advancing the ball forward with an aerial pass into Tufts’ defensive end. The Jumbos quickly regained control, beginning a back-and-forth battle for possession. Tufts had an early scoring opportunity about three minutes in when a shot by junior midfielder Reagan Malo struck a Bowdoin defender on the goal line, earning Tufts a penalty stroke. Junior midfielder Claire Casey lined up to take the stroke against Bowdoin goalkeeper Lauren O’Donald for her fourth penalty stroke this season. Casey expertly placed the ball in the back of the net to give the Jumbos an early 1–0 advantage, improving to four-for-four on penalty strokes this season.
For the remainder of the frame, both teams applied intense pressure across the pitsch. Tufts earned a penalty corner but shot wide, and another attempt was saved by the keeper. while Bowdoin managed only two shots during the quarter that both went wide.
Bowdoin entered the second quarter determined to even out the score, earning its first of many penalty corners less than two minutes in. The Jumbos defense blocked the initial shot, but the Polar Bears drew another corner, which Tufts once again thwarted. The Polar Bears dominated possession for the next eight or so minutes, earning six additional corners. The Jumbo defense, led by senior goalkeeper Lydia Eastburn, remained composed and impenetrable through it all, with Eastburn tallying three saves and Casey adding two defensive saves.
All the Jumbos needed to extend their lead was one decisive possession. First-year midfielder Kate Wahler intercepted a pass and pushed the ball up to senior forward Hannah Biccard, who sent it into the circle. Sophomore forward Hannah Murray lifted the ball toward the cage, where junior midfielder Sophie Brants redirected it into the goal. Bowdoin was unable to respond in the final five minutes of the half.
The first half of the third quarter saw little offensive action as both teams held firm. Ten minutes into the second half, Brants earned a penalty corner for the Jumbos, assisting Casey for her second goal of the game. Bowdoin earned a corner shortly after but failed to convert thanks to another strong defensive stand and a save by Eastburn.
Bowdoin started the final quarter with a penalty corner four minutes in, but Tufts’ defense prevented a shot. Unsatisfied with a 3–0 lead, Tufts was still looking to score. First-year forward Eleanor Helm earned Tufts its third corner of the game halfway through the frame andscored on the play, assisted by Biccard. Soon after, sophomore midfielder Riley Schmidt added another goal off a Brants assist.
Tufts appeared poised for a shutout until Bowdoin, undeterred, broke through with just over two minutes remaining to score the game’s final goal.
The match showcased the Jumbos’ remarkable depth. “The best part of this team is that there are no stars. Every player is talented from the starters to the bench and we have a lot of depth. Every game is so much fun because we have so many players who can score and we are difficult to defend,” head coach Tina Mattera wrote in a message to the Daily.
In Tuesday’s game, Tufts had goals from four different players and assists from three. Over the regular season, 11 different Jumbos have scored for a total of 51 goals, withassists coming from 14 players. The defense has also been crucial, allowing just 15 goals all season.
Going into the post-season on a 10-game win streak, the Jumbos will host No. 8 Amherst College on Ounjian Field this Saturday.
When asked about the NESCAC tournament, Mattera wrote, “The focus is taking it one game at a time and playing our best game. We have a great team dynamic and we are really working together this year and having a lot of fun.”
The reigning NESCAC Champions are sure to have lots of fun as they dance through the conference tournament, looking to win another title.
