Box Score
MEDFORD - The #5 Tufts Jumbos and University of New England Nor'easters played just over thirty minutes of scoreless field hockey on Thursday night at Bello Field. The Jumbos were able to score with just under five minutes left in the first half to take the 1-0 advantage, and added two goals in the second half to move to a 3-0 victory.
Just over thirty minutes into the game Jumbo senior co-captain Brittany Norfleet unleashed a shot that UNE keeper Holly Smith was able to save. The ball deflected off Smith and sophomore Ashlyn Salvage was able to put the ball past Smith for her first collegiate goal to give the Jumbos the 1-0 advantage.
The Nor'easters best scoring opportunity would come just over 20 minutes into the second half. Senior Kayla Lambert shot a ball that senior co-captain and goalie Bri Keenan was able to save. The ball deflected off Keenan and sophomore Nicole Matarozzo let off a shot that Keenan dove to her right to save.
The Jumbos would make it 2-0 with a Norfleet goal just over 25 minutes into the second half. Junior Dakota Silkes-Keilp served up a pass to Norfleet just in front of the goal that Norfleet shot past the Nor'easter keeper.
The 3-0 advantage came from first-year Mary Travers' third goal of the season. Travers beat two Nor'easter defenders and let off a rocket that went past the right leg of Smith for the 3-0 Jumbo lead.
Tufts (7-1, 3-1 NESCAC) held the advantage in shots, 25-9. The Nor'easters and Jumbos were even in penalty corners at eight a piece. Smith had four saves in the loss for UNE. Keenan had five saves in the shutout win, and now has seven shutouts on the season. She is three away from the single season record held by Dawn Morrill for the 10 shutouts she had in 1996. The team is four shutouts away from the single season shutout record, which is 11 by the 1996 team.
The Jumbos will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to #4 Middlebury for a 1:30 pm match up between two top ten ranked NESCAC teams. The Nor'easters (6-4, 4-1 CCC) will take the field again on Saturday when they travel to Springfield, Mass. for a 6:00 pm game against Western New England.
