Box Score
MEDFORD - Scoring their most goals in a conference game since 2007, the Tufts women's soccer opened its 2014 season with a bang as they defeated Bates College 6-0 Saturday afternoon at Kraft Field. Sophomore Brooke Fortin scored twice as the Jumbos had five goal scorers overall. First-year Mariah Harvey-Brown had a great debut, tying a Tufts record with three assists.
Tufts opened the scoring 18 minutes into the match as senior Nikki Blank netted the first goal of her collegiate career. The Bates keeper misplayed the ball in the top left corner of the box and Blank was on the spot to boot it into the net.
The goals came quickly after that as Tufts would build a 4-0 lead by halftime. In the 29th minute, junior Allie Weiller - last year's leading scorer - converted a beautiful cross from Harvey-Brown. Six minutes later it was 3-0 as senior co-captain Catharine Greer scored on a free kick from just outside the rigtht corner of the box.
Bates starting keeper Allegra Sacco was injured trying to make a play on the ball late in the first half and had to come out of the game. She was replaced by first-year Sarah McCarthy. The Jumbos nearly scored on the play, but Bates sophomore Rebecca Titcomb was able to clear the ball right before it crossed the goal line.
Just moments after the change, Tufts scored again with Harvey-Brown sending another great ball to Fortin for her first of the game.
The visiting Bobcats had periods of controlling play in the first 45. Twenty five minutes into the game they earned three corners in a two-minute span. They had their best chance of the game during this time as sophomore Hannah Graves drilled a shot that was headed towards the right side of the net, but Jumbo sophomore keeper Eileen McGarry made a leaping save.
Tufts out-shot Bates 10-5 in the first half, but Bates had a 3-1 advantage on corners. McGarry and Sacco both stopped three shots in the half.
The Jumbos picked up where they left off in the second half as Harvey-Brown earned her third assist, making a play along the end line to set up sophomore Sarah Pykkonen for Tufts' fifth goal in the 51st minute. Six minutes later, Tufts capped its day with Fortin's second goal on a drive from well outside the top right corner of the box.
Bates had eight shots in the second half to nine by the Jumbos, but earned just a few quality strikes including another by Graves that just sailed over the crossbar. Her four shots overall led the Bobcats.
McGarry earned the shutout in her first collegiate start, finishing with four saves. McCarthy had two saves in 48:55 of action for Bates. Tufts finished with a 19-13 advantage in shots, while Bates had a 4-2 edge in corners.
The 6-0 win was Tufts' largest margin of victory in the league since a 6-0 victory against Connecticut College in the opening round of the NESCAC Tournament on October 28, 2007. Harvey-Brown became the seventh Tufts player to record three assists in a game.
Game photos by Alonso Nichols / Tufts
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