Box Score
|
| Thomas and the Jumbos defense haven't allowed a goal in five games. |
MEDFORD – The No. 6 Tufts field hockey team combined solid defense with a high offensive output and topped NESCAC foe Wesleyan, 6-0, Tuesday evening on Ounjian Field. Senior Annie Artz scored twice to help the Jumbos close out a perfect September. The shutout was the fifth in a row for the Jumbos.
The Jumbos are now 7-0 overall with a 3-0 mark in NESCAC play. Wesleyan falls to 1-6 with the loss and they are 0-3 in conference tilts this season.
Sophomore Gigi Tutoni put the Jumbos on the board early with her sixth goal of the season just 9:43 into the first half. Junior Mary Travers unleashed a shot that Wesleyan goalie Claire Edelman came out of the goal and was able to save, but Tutoni got the rebound and was able to put the ball right into the goal. Wesleyan's Brooke Hodgson came inches away from a defensive save, but the ruling on the field was a goal.
The Jumbos made it 2-0 just under 20 minutes into the half when freshman Shannon Yogerst's shot was once again saved by Edelman, but this time it was senior Annie Artz that found the rebound and easily tallied her first goal of the game. Artz would add another one about 27 minutes into the half as she received a pass from Tutoni right in front of the goal and she was able to put it into the back left corner of the goal to give the Jumbos the 3-0 advantage. Artz now has a team-leading seven goals this season.
Travers would add her own goal with just under a minute remaining in the first half as Yogerst's shot rebounded off Edelman once again and Travers was able to sneak it right past Edelman to give the Jumbos the 4-0 lead going into halftime.
The Jumbos unleashed 19 shots during the first half, while the Cardinals were not able to manage one. The Jumbos drew seven penalty corners to the Cardinals none in the first frame.
Just under ten minutes into the second half junior Celia Lewis received a pass from Travers who was inserting a penalty corner, and Lewis shot the ball right at the net and the ball when right through Edelman's legs to make it 5-0. The assist was Travers' fifth of the season, which is tied for the lead in the NESCAC with Elizabeth Bennewitz of Bowdoin.
Sophomore Claire Trilling would be the final Jumbo goal scorer with her first collegiate goal with just under two minutes left in the game. Trilling took advantage of the rebound and was able to sneak it past Edelman to make it 6-0 in the Jumbos favor.
Once again the Jumbo defense played extremely well, stifling the Wesleyan offense and not allowing them a shot all game. Junior Ellexa Thomas along with senior co-captain Nicole Arata and sophomore Issy Del Priore were the leaders of the Jumbos defensive efforts.
The Jumbos finished with the advantage in shots, 34-0, and penalty corners, 11-0. Edelman finished with 14 saves for the Cardinals. Sophomore Emily Polinski got the win for the Jumbos in goal, playing just under 60 minutes and not having to make a save. Freshman Samantha Ward played the final 10:53 and also didn't have to make a save.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Saturday when they host Hamilton for a NESCAC contest that will start at 12 pm. The Jumbos are at home this weekend for Homecoming, and will host Amherst on Saturday at 12 pm and then Hamilton on Sunday at 12 pm.
#
