The women's lacrosse team entered its game against Connecticut College on Saturday needing a win to secure a spot in the upcoming NESCAC playoffs. The Jumbos took the game in convincing style, trouncing the Camels 14-5 and earning the fifth playoff seed.
The victory improved Tufts' overall record to 8-5, and 4-5 in the NESCAC. Connecticut dropped its fifth straight league decision, falling to 6-8 overall and 3-6 in the NESCAC. The Camels hold the seventh seed in the NESCAC tournament.
While the team was confident heading into the game, it took nothing for granted.
"They are always a good team," sophomore Maureen Mahon said. "We knew to expect them to play really well, and we knew we could never let down at any point."
Although the score remained tied at 1-1 early in the game, the Jumbos asserted their offensive prowess, exploding for eight unanswered goals to go up 9-1 and take the lead for good. During this offensive display, sophomore Dana Chivvis tallied three goals and an assist, while senior Katie Richardson netted two goals, upping her season total to 34.
Connecticut sophomore Caley Boyd was able to cut the margin to seven late in the half, as the Jumbos went into halftime with a 9-2 lead.
The offensive onslaught continued in the second half as senior co-captain Jen Gregorian scored three of her game-high four goals to keep the Jumbos comfortably in the lead. The Camels cut the deficit to 10-4 with 18:28 remaining, but would get no closer as Tufts rattled off the next four goals - two by Gregorian.
Chivvis finished with three goals, and Richardson, junior Liz Horowitz, and sophomore Kathy Kenner each had two goals in the effort. Freshman Lauren Peach capped off the Jumbos' scoring with her first goal of the season.
While it was tested little in the contest, Tufts' defense played well, anchored by another solid performance from sophomore goalie Ari Kristan, who finished the game with eight saves.
All seemed very pleased with the team's effort on the day.
"We played really well," Mahon said. "We knew we had to come out and play hard because we needed this win to qualify for the tournament."
The next challenge for the Jumbos will be in the form of the fourth-seeded Colby White Mules. Although the Jumbos defeated the Mules earlier in the season in a game played on the turf field of Bates College, the game should prove to be a spirited contest. Colby boasts a 5-4 record in the NESCAC, and has won five straight games.
At the same time, Tufts has won four of its last five games, and seems to be peaking at just the right time.
"We feel that we are on our way up right now," Mahon said. "There are a couple of games from earlier in the season that we wish we could play again."
The team's momentum from the last few weeks should prove key in the upcoming playoff game. Tufts' only loss in its last five games has come in the form of a close 9-8 loss to Amherst, the second-seeded team in the tournament.
"If we keep playing well, we can knock off some teams," Mahon said. "We have a chance to do really well in the tournament."
If the team is able to win on Tuesday, they will head to Middlebury College for the final four of the NESCAC tournament, where they may have to face the number-one seeded Middlebury Panthers.
