Box Score Feature photo courtesy of Josh McKee
CLINTON, N.Y. - The sixth-seeded Tufts Jumbos fell to the three-seed Hamilton Continentals 1-0 in a NESCAC Quarterfinal game at Love Field on Saturday. This ends the season for the Jumbos (8-7) while sending the Continentals (13-1-2) to the semifinals next weekend.
Hamilton forward Olivia Zubarik scored the only goal of the game in the 47th minute. Zubarik redirected a close range shot from Hyla Mosher over the head of Tufts goalie Kaelin Logue (pictured) with the ball just rolling into the net.
The Jumbos held the advantage in shots 8-4 and 4-3 on goal in the first half. Tufts came out aggressive with the first three shots on goal. Hamilton was unable to answer with their own shot on goal until 10 minutes into the half. 'Bo junior Maddie Pero saw her shot go just wide at four minutes. Thirty seconds later Liz Reed took a shot that sailed over the crossbar. Pero had a good look from outside the box, but was unable to elevate her shot which was caught easily by Hamilton goalie Caity Smith. Hamilton had a good opportunity at the 18th minute which ended when Logue caught a crossing pass just in front of the goal.
Reed had the best opportunities for Tufts when her off-balance shot was saved by Smith at 33 minutes. She followed this with a shot in the 36th minute which went just over the crossbar. A free kick for Hamilton at the 42-minute mark was again caught by Logue to prevent an additional shot on goal by the Continentals. The teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.
Hamilton came out with a more aggressive approach as they scored the only goal of the game just two minutes into the second half. The Continentals held the advantage in second-half shots with 10 as opposed to the Jumbos' eight. Tufts would have several opportunities to tie the game, but were unable to capitalize.
Margaux Ameer secured the ball and sent a low shot which was saved by Smith in the 64th minute. Claire Wilkinson created several opportunities including when she charged down the sideline into the box where her shot was blocked by Hamilton's Kelly Grossman. Wilkinson would have another opportunity when she secured a free ball and sent a low shot which was saved again by Smith. Ameer got the last shot of the game when she tried to put the ball in the lower left corner of the goal. Smith made a diving save with just 15 seconds to play to keep the score at 1-0.
The Continentals continued to apply pressure after the goal. Logue had a good diving save when Mosher took a shot from inside the box which she attempted to fit into the bottom right of the net. A header by Olivia Morrow in the 70th minute sailed over the crossbar. A little over a minute later Mosher had a header from inside the box which went just high. Zubarik had a strong opportunity when she got around a Tufts defender and got off a clean shot which also went just high.
Shots finished 16-14 in favor of Tufts, but the Continentals ended with nine shots on goal compared to the Jumbos' eight. Corners were 2-0 also in favor of Tufts. Logue had eight saves including five in the second half for the Jumbos. Smith also stopped eight in the Hamilton goal.
Written by Dani Vittori, Athletic Communications Intern
