Box Score 
MEDFORD – Beth Krikorian (pictured) scored on a brilliant individual effort 10 minutes into the game and the third-ranked Tufts University field hockey team made it stand for a 1-0 victory over #9 Amherst College in NESCAC action Saturday at Ounjian Field.
After a restart from just outside of the circle on the left side of the Amherst end, Krikorian dribbled past three Mammoth defenders to the middle of the circle and fired a shot into the left side of the cage. The goal would lift Tufts to 9-2 overall and 6-1 NESCAC while dropping Amherst to 9-3 and 5-3.
The visitors had put the first shot on goal when Jackie D'Alleva sent an attempt from the left half of the circle that Jumbo senior Andie Stallman saved easily five minutes in. After Krikorian's goal, D'Alleva had another chance and her back-hand shot rolled just wide of the right post.
The second quarter was a defensive stalemate with no shots by either team. Amherst had a late corner, but a shot by Beth Williamson was whistled off.
The Jumbos would have the better of the third quarter with four shots and three corners. On the second corner, a shot by Reegan McCluskey was blocked away by Amherst's Sophia Kaplan. On the third, Jumbo Melissa Manzello got the ball right in front of the goal, but a foul was called taking possession away from Tufts. Amherst would close the period with a corner and Abbey Kays had a shot from the middle of the circle that Tufts' Sam Gibby kicked away.
Gibby would finish with three saves, including two in the fourth quarter when Tufts was protecting the lead. After a Jumbo give-away that landed on the stick of Kaplan, Gibby came sliding out to stop a ball headed towards the Jumbo cage.
Tufts' Gillian Roeca looked to add an insurance goal with six minutes left, but her shot from within a crowd of defenders was kicked away by Amherst keeper Sara Nidus.
The Jumbos finished with advantages of 8-5 in shots and 3-2 in corners. Both teams' goalies made four saves.
Tufts returns to action Tuesday when they host Colby College in a conference game. Amherst hosts Smith on Tuesday.
