Box Score MEDFORD - The seventh-ranked Tufts field hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the second half to turn a 2-1 halftime deficit into a 4-2 victory over #19 Trinity in a NESCAC game Sunday afternoon at Bello Field.
First-year Gigi Tutoni scored twice and junior tri-captain Dominique Zarrella had the third as Tufts controlled the second half of play. The Jumbos finished the second stanza with a 9-1 advantage in shots and 8-2 in corners.
The Jumbos remain undefeated early in the NESCAC season at 3-0 while improving to 3-1 overall. Trinity falls to 1-2 in the league and 1-3 overall.
With Trinity playing a man-down after a card half-way into the first period, Tufts capitalized with good corner execution. Senior tri-captain Maggie Chapman inserted to senior Dakota Sikes-Keilp, who moved the ball over to junior Elle Chrupcala. Her blast 19:21 into the half put the Jumbos up 1-0.
Trinity turned around and evened the score almost immediately. On a corner opportunity, sophomore Kelcie Finn had her first shot blocked and scored on the rebound with 17:08 to go until halftime.
The Bantams would take a 2-1 lead into intermission when a free hit to the right post by junior Mia Olsen was deflected into the goal by junior Sydney Doolittle with 6:46 on the clock.
Shots were 10-6 Tufts and they had six corners to three for Trinity at the break, but the visitors were ahead on the scoreboard.
The Jumbos dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half to no avail. However, they broke through during a corner when Tutoni tipped Sikes-Keilp's blast 13 minutes into the half to tie the game. Trinity was down a player when the Jumbos scored due to a five-minute yellow card.
Tufts then scored twice within a minute to take over the game. On a corner, Chrupcla dished to Tutoni and she made a move around the goalie and lifted the ball into the cage with six minutes remaining in regulation. Fifty-one seconds later, Zarella won a battle for the ball near the bottom left side of the goal and lifted it in for a 4-2 Jumbo advantage.
Sikes-Keilp finished with two assists for Tufts. Freshman goalie Emily Polinski earned the decision in the Tufts goal after entering late in the first half. She made a nice kick save on Hobin shot off a corner when the game was tied 2-2.
Sophie Fitzpatrick posted seven saves in the Trinity goal, including five in the first half.
The Jumbos finished with advantages of 19-7 in shots and 14-5 in corners for the game.
Tufts continues a six-game homestand with non-conference action against UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday at 5 pm. Trinity hosts Keene State on Tuesday at 6 pm.
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