CLINTON, NY - Sophomore Kristin Wright (Austin, TX) from Tufts and sophomore Liza Gergenti from Hamilton both recorded shutouts as the Jumbos and Continentals played to a 0-0 tie in a NESCAC game at Hamilton's Love Field on Saturday.
Wright made seven saves while earning her third solo shutout of the season and the team's sixth. The shutout was the fifth of the season for Gergenti, who was credited with eight saves.
Tufts is now fourth in NESCAC with one game remaining against Bowdoin. Hamilton is in fifth place in the NESCAC with no conference games remaining. The top eight teams automatically qualify for the NESCAC championships. The final NESCAC conference games will be played on Wednesday (Oct. 26).
Hamilton (6-7-1 overall, 4-5-1 NESCAC) had a good opportunity to take the lead in the first half, but junior Charlotte Cosgrove volleyed a Lauren Brady cross into the arms of Wright. The two teams remained scoreless through the rest of the half.
Tufts nearly took the lead in the 67th minute when senior Jamie Love-Nichols (Cortez, CA) received a long pass and fired a shot towards the Hamilton net that Gergenti was able to deflect just enough to hit off the crossbar and out of play. Just over three minutes later, a Tufts defender cleared the ball off her own goal line after a cross by Hamilton's Emily Grund was redirected towards the net.
Tufts (6-4-3, 4-3-2) had one final chance in the second sudden-victory overtime period when a free kick led to a strong header on net by sophomore Maeve Stewart (Palo Alto, CA). Gergenti was there though, and made the save to preserve the shutout.
Hamilton held a 12-11 shot advantage, and took three corner kicks to Tufts' one.
Hamilton will travel to play a NESCAC championship quarterfinal game against an opponent yet to be determined next Saturday (Oct. 29). Tufts travels to Bowdoin College for its final NESCAC game on Wednesday.
Match statistics
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Match release courtesy of Hamilton College
