Box Score
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| Celia Lewis scored her first two career goals on Saturday against Colby. |
MEDFORD – It took a little while to get the action started, but when it began it did not disappoint Jumbo fans, as the #8 Tufts field hockey team opened up their season at home on Bello Field on Saturday afternoon, and topped the Colby Mules 3-0 behind two goals from sophomore Celia Lewis. The Jumbos scored late in the first half and then added two more goals in the second to secure their first win, and first NESCAC win, of the season.
The Jumbos open up their season with a win for the third year in a row. With the loss the Mules move to 1-1 on the season, and 0-1 in conference play.
The beginning of the first half was pretty even, as the Mules and the Jumbos had some opportunities, but weren't able to capitalize on any of them. The Jumbos were able to turn it on late in the first half, drawing some penalty corners but not being able to find the back of the cage.
With under a minute remaining in the first half the Jumbos drew a penalty corner with the clock running down. As the clock ran down to zero, senior co-captain Maggie Chapman inserted the corner with a short ball to the left that found fellow classmate Dakota Sikes-Keilp. Sikes-Keilp unleashed a shot to the right corner that first-year Gigi Tutoni was able to deflect past the Mules keeper to put the Jumbos ahead 1-0. Tutoni scored her first career goal playing in her first career game.
The Jumbos ended the first half with the advantage in shots 12-4 and penalty corners, 7-1. Senior Sarah Evans made eight saves in the first half for the Mules while sophomore Libby DesRuisseaux was making her first start for the Jumbos and made three stops in the first half.
The Jumbos would add two goals in the second half to pad their lead, but the Mules did have more chances in the second half. Lewis scored her first collegiate goal about half way through the second half when sophomore Mary Kate Patton inserted a penalty corner to Lewis at the top of the circle, and Lewis was able to get it past Evans into the right post to give the Jumbos the 2-0 advantage.
Lewis added the second goal of her career with just over 16 minutes remaining in the second half. Once again the Jumbos drew a penalty corner, and Chapman inserted the corner to the top of the circle to Sikes-Keilp. Sikes-Keilp passed the ball to her right to Lewis who fired a shot into the left post for her second goal of the day.
The Mules added nine shots in the second half, as did the Jumbos, but the home team finished with the advantage in shots, 21-13. The Jumbos also had the advantage in penalty corners on the day, 16-4. Evans made 12 saves for the Mules, while DesRuisseaux finished with eight saves and her first career shutout in her first career start. Junior tri-captain Dominique Zarrella had six shots on goal for the Jumbos. Senior Megan Fortier took seven shots for the Mules, four of those on goal.
The Mules take the field again on Sunday at Endicott with a 1 pm start time. The Jumbos will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Babson for a 4 pm start.
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