Teams: Field Hockey: Press Releases

COACH MCDAVITT, SCHOLTES LEAD FIVE WHO EARN NESCAC FIELD HOCKEY HONORS

Defensive Player of the Year Margi Scholtes

Coach of the Year Tina McDavitt

MEDFORD -- Five members of the Tufts University field hockey team have been honored by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), which released its All-Conference Teams today.

In a vote by the league's 11 head coaches, Tufts junior Margi Scholtes (Grosse Pointe, MI) was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Tina McDavitt, in her fifth year guiding the Jumbos, was voted Coach of the Year for the first time. Scholtes and sophomore Tamara Brown (Annandale, VA) are among the 11 players selected to the NESCAC first team. Senior Brittany Holiday (Wellesley, MA) and sophomore Amanda Roberts (Wenham, MA) are on the 11-member second team. Tufts and Amherst College both have four members on the two teams, most among conference teams.

McDavitt has led Tufts to its best season ever in 2008. The Jumbos went 14-0 through the regular season, securing first place in the conference and hosting the NESCAC semi-finals and championship game. The Jumbos defeated #1 in the nation and defending national champion Bowdoin College in a climactic finale to the regular season. Wins over Colby and Trinity in the conference tournament put Tufts in the final, and the team moved up to #2 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. Tufts suffered their first loss of the season to Bowdoin, 1-0, in the conference championship game. The team was then chosen as one of four teams in the nation to host an NCAA Tournament Regional, which takes place at Bello Field this weekend (Nov. 15-16).

Scholtes, who was on the All-NESCAC second team last fall, is a force at center-midfield for the Jumbos. Her combination of ability and attitude on defense provides the team with impenetrable ball-stopping skills. As a result, Tufts is ranked second in the league with just 6.18 shots per game allowed. Their 15 goals allowed in 17 games is third-best in NESCAC. She is also a key offensive contributor with big hits on penalty corners, leading to two goals and five assists.

Brown has scored a Tufts-record 22 goals so far this season. Her 48 points this season, including four assists, is also a new Jumbo single-season mark. Remarkably, she has scored goals in 15 of the team's 17 games. In nine NESCAC games, Brown had 14 goals and three assists including hat tricks against Wesleyan and Colby. Six of her seven game-winning goals have come against conference opponents.

Holiday is an All-NESCAC pick for the second straight season. A tri-captain of the team, she has been a leader by example for the Jumbos with her constant effort. She's contributed five goals and three assists for 13 points this fall and is a perfect 3 for 3 on penalty-stroke opportunities. Roberts' outstanding athletic ability emerged on the field hockey field this season, where she is a key to the team's transitional game with speed and stick-work. She has five assists on the season.

Tufts received a bye in the first round of NCAA's. They will play either Springfield College or Keene State College in the second round at home on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 11:00 am.

Brown

Holiday

Roberts

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