Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000

FIELD HOCKEY IS TOP SEED IN ECAC NEW ENGLAND TOURNAMENT
Jumbos to host NESCAC rival Bates in first round

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rivals Tufts University and Bates College square off in the first round of the ECAC New England Div. III Tournament on Wednesday (Nov. 1). The Jumbos were selected as the #1 seed with a 9-7 record, and the Bobcats got in as the eighth seed with a 7-7 mark.

Bates beat the Jumbos this year, though, 2-1 on October 1. Sophomore Julia Price set up a goal and scored one less than three minutes apart early in the second half. Tufts had taken an early 1-0 lead with 22:27 on the clock in the first half when senior co-captain Colette Gaudet (Redding, CT) converted a pass from junior Christina Orf (Lexington, MA). The Bobcats came charging out of the half, with freshman Sarah Weatherbee scoring off a pass from Price at 30:48. Then at 28:03 Price scored her second goal of the game to give Bates the eventual game-winner.

Last fall, the roles were reversed in the ECAC Tournament. Tufts was the #8 seed and traveled to #1 Bates and beat them, 1-0, with Barbara Szajda (Farmington, CT) scoring the game-winner in overtime. The series between these teams has been tight. Prior to Bates' victory here earlier this year, each team had won three games out of the previous six.

For a team with seven losses, Tufts is very good. They have a 2-1 win in overtime against NCAA qualifier Williams College and a no-time-on-the-clock 2-1 overtime loss to NCAA participants Amherst. The Jumbos were 4-5 in their NESCAC season, earning the fifth seed in the conference tournament. They upset fourth seed Wesleyan, 2-1 in overtime, then lost 2-1 to Bowdoin in the semi-finals. The Jumbos are led in scoring by Gaudet, who hadn't scored a point in her career entering the season, but has put up six goals and four assists (16 pts.) mainly with her key role on penalty corners. Junior Lindsay Lionetti (Samford, CT) has been all-star quality at center midfield. Senior co-captain Amy Polverini (Longmeadow, MA) has been a consistent contributor both offensively and defensively. Senior Dena Sloan (Millburn, NJ) is the backbone in goal.

Bates had to be wondering if its season was over after failing to qualify for one of the seven NESCAC Tournament berths. They are a worthy inclusion, though, not only with the Tufts win, but a win over ECAC second-seed Keene State and an overtime loss to Williams. The Bobcats are one of the youngest teams in NESCAC, with each of its top five scorers coming from the sophomore and freshman classes. Rookie forward Lori Jessup has six goals and sophomore Johie Farrar has four. Goalkeeper Peg Ficks was an All-American last season.

Tufts advanced to the ECAC final last year, losing to Wesleyan. The Jumbos were ECAC Champions in 1996 and in 1989. Bates is playing in the tournament for the third year in a row.

If Tufts wins on Wednesday, it will host the semi-final round and championship game this weekend. The winner will play the winner of the Connecticut College-Wesleyan quarterfinal on Saturday at Williams.

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