It was just the first contest of her Tufts career, but it only took Maeve Stewart a little over 10 minutes to produce.
Coming into the 2010 season, the women's soccer team expected large contributions from the incoming freshman class. Few, however, could have foreseen such immediate dividends as those that came from the first−year Stewart, who scored all three goals in a 3−0 victory over Middlebury on Saturday at Kraft Field.
"We were really excited about all of our freshmen, Maeve included," senior co−captain Sarah Nolet said. "I don't think anyone expects three goals out of a freshman in their first collegiate game, but we knew she was a good player and we're very excited about how she played."
Stewart wasted little time in opening the book to her career, striking first in the 10th minute after gathering a long pass from senior co−captain defender Carrie Wilson, fighting off a Panthers defender and sliding the ball past Middlebury senior goalkeeper Lauren Torch into the lower left side of the net.
"During the shot I was so nervous that I was going to miss the goal completely," Stewart said. "It was one of those shots that you have to place it, but it felt really good afterwards."
The lead emboldened the Jumbos as they continued to be the aggressor throughout the first half.
"The early goal was huge," Nolet said. "It got our confidence up and the jitters out and it really established a precedent for the rest of the game and the rest of the season."
After taking a 1−0 halftime lead into the locker rooms, Stewart and the Jumbos' attack got back to work early in the second half, doubling the lead less than two minutes in as Stewart drove home a well−placed pass from junior midfielder Lauren O'Connor. Less than nine minutes later, junior forward Jamie Love−Nichols beat her defender on the end line and delivered a pass to Stewart, who calmly tucked the ball away to complete the hat trick and give Tufts a 3−0 lead.
While Stewart admitted to being nervous before the game, she made sure to follow coach Martha Whiting's instructions.
"I just wanted to stay focused through the entire game," Stewart said. "When [Whiting] told me I was starting, she reminded me we have a couple of runs that the forwards have to do, and she just said to work on making the right runs and trying my best."
Stewart credited much of the offense's success to the three−forward system that Whiting has employed for much of the past few seasons.
"We have three forwards so we always have one person check, one person make the run diagonally and one person open up wide and I think that worked really well because everyone is always moving around and no one is ever set in one position the whole time," Stewart said.
The success of the Jumbos' attack may have stolen the show on Saturday, but Tufts' defensive effort was equally impressive. Middlebury managed only three shots on goal, with their best chance coming on a shot off the crossbar by sophomore Amy Schulster that could have tied the game in the first half. The defense took control after that, and sophomore goalie Phoebe Hanley recorded her first career victory after playing the first half and making two saves.
"We did a really good job defensively," Nolet said. "They had some key players that we wanted to look out for and those players got subbed out pretty early because we shut them down, so that was a big win for us defensively."
After opening last season with a tough overtime loss at Middlebury, the Jumbos benefited from hosting the Panthers this time around. They were able to avoid a four−hour drive and remain within the routine they've established on Kraft Field throughout the preseason.
"Opening at home was huge, especially for our freshmen, not changing too many things for them at once," Nolet said. "We've been playing on that field so they're pretty comfortable there. We've had to travel to Middlebury the past couple years so it was nice to play them at home one last time."
While the start to the season was encouraging, the Jumbos realize they have a lot of room for improvement while they look toward Tuesday night's game at Keene State.
"I think there's a lot to be learned from [playing Middlebury]," Nolet said. "Keeping composure and playing the ball on the ground. Specifically, we need to look at switching the field and playing on both sides. In general, just keeping our composure and keeping things organized."
