Box Score
MEDFORD - The #13 Tufts field hockey team won its sixth straight game, 3-1, against the University of New England on Wednesday at Bello Field. Senior Lia Sagerman (LaJolla, CA) had a goal and an assist, and junior Emily Cannon (Atkinston, NH) set up two goals to lead Tufts.
The Jumbos wasted no time taking the lead, as Cannon took a corner insert from senior co-captain Lia Sagerman (LaJolla, CA) and tapped it to sophomore Maggie Chapman, who drilled a low, hard shot into the cage just 2:29 into the contest.
Tufts senior co-captain Rachel Gerhardt (Worcester, MA) later hit the post on a shot off a corner, but the the hosts were able to capitalize soon after. Tufts extended the margin to 2-0 13 minutes into the first half as Sagerman passed to junior Kelsey Perkins (Barrington, RI) for the goal.
The Jumbos would out-shoot the Nor'easters 15-3 and earn an 11-2 margin in corners for the half. They were unable to add to the lead though, with UNE senior Laura Egounis (Boscawen, NH) helping her team's cause with two defensive saves.
Into the second half, the Nor'easters suddenly made a game of it. Junior tri-captain Casey Clark (Bethlehem, PA) charged towards the cage and sent a cross over to junior tri-captain Hayley LaPointe (Topsham, ME), who finished just 49 seconds into the period to pull UNE within 2-1.
However, barely five minutes later, the Jumbos went up by two again (3-1) when Cannon sent a pass in close to Sagerman who scored with a strong lift shot. The Jumbos would remain in control from there, not allowing a penalty corner opportunity to UNE in the entire second half.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Warren (Boscawen, NH) was busy in the Nor'easters goal, finishing with 15 saves. Jumbo starter Brianna Keenan (Greenland, NH) made three saves in the first half and junior Katie Stuntz (Mamaroneck, NY) stopped one shot in the second half. Tufts finished with a 28-8 advantage in shots and 15-2 in corners.
Tufts (6-1) hosts Amherst in NESCAC action on Homecoming Day at Bello Field on Saturday at noon. UNE next plays at Endicott on Saturday.
Game statistics
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