COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. -- The 2010 Tufts University field hockey season came to an end on Saturday when the Jumbos were upset by NESCAC rival Middlebury College, 3-2, in a second-round game played at Ursinus College. The Panthers (13-4) move on to the national quarterfinals tomorrow when they will face the host Bears at 1 pm. Tufts finished the year with a 15-3 record.
The Jumbos finished with a 28-7 advantage in shots over Middlebury, and 21-5 in penalty corners. However, the Panthers were opportunistic offensively and received 10 saves from goalie Becca Shaw, including eight in the first half.
Tufts took an early 1-0 advantage when sophomore Lia Sagerman (LaJolla, PA) tipped in a drive by senior co-captain Jess Perkins (Barrington, RI) 9:26 into the action. That was the first of four first-half goals in the game.
Middlebury evened the score with a similar goal, as Hannah Clarke tipped in a pass from Lauren Greer about six minutes after the Tufts goal at 15:44. The Jumbos had a golden opportunity to take a lead when they were awarded a penalty stroke with 9:23 remaining in the first half. However, Middlebury's Madeline Brooks - not the starter - came off the bench and saved Tufts senior Tamara Brown's (Annandale, VA) shot.
The Jumbos did manage to get back in front in the 27th minute of action when junior Lindsay Griffith (Wilmington, DE) converted a pass from classmate Sarah Cannon (Atkinson, NH). However, the Panthers capped the first-half by scoring with 22 seconds left when Charlotte Gardiner tallied with another assist by Greer as the duo capitalized on a two-on-one break.
Greer then scored the eventual game-winning goal 12 minutes into the second half. During a penalty corner opportunity. Clara St. Germain inserted, Margaret Souther controlled the ball, and Greer scored with a drive from the top of the circle.
Tufts had eight shots, including three on goal, after the Middlebury go-ahead goal, and eight corners as well. The Panthers held on and will play tomorrow with a berth in the "final four" on the line.
The Jumbos had defeated Middlebury 3-0 in the season-opener back on September 11.
Game Statistics
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