Box Score MEDFORD – The No. 8 ranked Tufts University field hockey team picked up a victory in their home opener against conference opponent Bates with a final score of 4-2 Saturday afternoon at Ounjian Field.
The Jumbos improve to 3-0 (2-0 NESCAC) on the season and will be hosting MIT this coming Wednesday at 6:30 pm. The Bobcats fall to 0-3 (0-3) and will be on the road against Thomas College Wednesday night at 7 pm.
Once again, the Jumbos continue to apply heavy pressure on opposing teams, and this time it paid off early on. Junior Rachel Hamilton scored her second goal of the season in the 12th minute, off a penalty corner pass from Marguerite Salamone.
Right after their first goal, the Jumbos would only need 38 seconds to strike again. This time, Shannon Yogerst added her name to the scoring sheet, recording her first goal of the season. The assist came off the stick of Hamilton, who collected her third point in very little time.
After the second goal, Bates decided to make a goalie change, replacing Adelae Durand and putting in freshman Ellie Bauer. Nearing the end of the half, the pressure kept piling on, and the Bobcats found themselves stuck in their own end. With less than a minute left, Tufts freshman Claire Foley scored her first collegiate goal, which caused pure chaos on the Jumbos' bench. The Jumbos had a total of 14 shots during the first half, had eight total penalty corners, and led 3-0.
As the second half started, more shots came off the sticks of Jumbo players, which created more and more pressure in the Bobcats' defensive end. Only a minute and 42 seconds in, freshman Sophie Schoeni scored her first collegiate goal as well, making the bench jump for joy once again. This put the Jumbos up 4-0.
Senior All-American Issy Del Priore played an outstanding game in the back, and seemed to be everywhere at once, making a huge defensive save shortly after Schoeni's goal. The Bobcats were persistent however and wouldn't quit quite yet. Unassisted goals from both Bridget Tweedie and Grace Fitzgerald cut the Jumbos lead to 4-2, with a little more than five minutes left to play. The Bobcats couldn't cut the lead down any further, with the final score being 4-2.
The Jumbos had a total of 27 shots (nine on net), while the Bobcats had 13 (five on net). Tufts had 13 penalty corners compared to Bates' seven. Jumbo senior Emily Polinski finished the game with three saves and freshman Ellie Bauer had four saves for Bates. Tufts had four different goal scorers, as two came off the sticks of freshmen who scored their first collegiate goals. Salamone had two assists, Marin Waddington had an assist, Hamilton had a goal and assist, Yogerst scored her first goal of the season.
Gigi Tutoni and Beth Krikorian both had four shots for the Jumbos, while Grace Fitzgerald had four for Bates.
Written by Athletic Communications intern Ryan Servant
