Field Hockey Goalie Marianna Zak Looks To Help Team Add To Pile Of Wins In Post-Season

MEDFORD - Late in November of her first season with the Tufts field hockey team, goalkeeper Marianna Zak (Concord, MA) found herself running onto the field when she was announced as the Jumbos' starter for the 2008 NCAA Championship Game at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Tufts lost a heart-breaker in overtime against conference rival Bowdoin, 3-2. However, it was a sign of things to come for Zak and head coach Tina McDavitt's Jumbo program.

"Playing in the national championship as a freshman was a huge deal and at the time I didn't even realize how huge," Zak said. "I remember just being excited before the game. We had just lost to Bowdoin in the NESCAC championship and we were anxious for the chance to beat them. The whole team was a little starstruck just being at the final four for the first time."

Plenty of big games would follow, with Zak playing a leading role in many of them. Heading into the 2011 post-season this weekend, no one has been behind more Tufts victories than Zak. Not even close. Since taking over the starting role during her first year, she's compiled a 59-9 career record. That's 26 wins more than the second-most in Jumbo history, 33 recorded by Dena Sloan from 1997-2000.

During that 2008 season, when Tufts made the jump to becoming a national force, Zak had seven saves in the first statement win against Middlebury. She stopped 10 shots when the Jumbos beat College of New Jersey 2-1 to earn a berth into the NCAA semi-finals. Her seven saves then helped the Jumbos eliminate national power Messiah in the NCAA semis.

The 2009 team won the Tufts program's first-ever NESCAC title against Trinity in front of eight saves by Zak. The Jumbos returned to the NCAA "final four" that year, and again earned an NCAA berth in 2010. With all of that experience to lean on, Zak and the rest of the team will look to make another strong playoff run this fall. They begin with a NESCAC quarterfinal against Trinity on Saturday at noon.

"This year we all have a better idea of how much it's worth," Zak said. "We're going in with a record of 11-3, two more losses than we've ever had in the regular season. For me, there's a lot more pressure and responsibility now, especially as a senior. This is the last chance for my class. We came so ridiculously close to winning it all as freshmen. Anything is possible at this point, just as long as we keep playing our game."

In her first game wearing the Tufts uniform, Zak played the second half as the Jumbos drubbed Wesleyan 10-1 in the 2008 season opener. That remains the most goals Tufts has ever scored in a game. Zak made one save without allowing any goals, then celebrated the first of many upcoming victories.

In fact, a lot of wins would come in games similar to the Wesleyan contest. With a stone-wall defense in front of her, Zak hasn't always been required to make many saves. Her 0.79 career goals against average - second lowest among active NCAA Div. III goalies - has a lot to do with the communication she's shared with many superb defensive players. Current teammate Taylor Dyer (Windham, NH) and 2009 graduate Margie Scholtes earned NESCAC Defensive Players of the Year honors while playing with Zak.

"Our chemistry on defense has been huge," she said. "We've always had a great dynamic in the backfield that has led to good communication. Taylor (Dyer) and I have been together since freshman year on defense. We've played with some really talented players who were strong leaders and set a tone for Tufts defense that we've worked hard to build upon."

The Jumbos enter the 2011 NESCAC tournament as the #4 seed. They will have their hands full against #5 Trinity. During the regular season, Tufts needed Dyer's penalty-stroke goal in overtime to defeat the Bantams 3-2. Zak made two saves in overtime leading to the game-winning goal.

That victory began a five-game winning streak during which Tufts outscored its opponents 29-2. The stretch ended with a 2-1 loss at Bowdoin on Wednesday, but the Jumbos again played a very close game against the rival Polar Bears.

Zak and her 4,443 career minutes of playing experience - seventh-most among active goalies - and classmates Dyer, Sarah Cannon (Atkinson, NH) and Lindsay Griffith (Wilmington, DE) lead a more balanced, deeper team than previous Tufts NCAA qualifiers.

"In the past we've counted on individuals to get the job done, but this year it's really been a team effort," Zak said.

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