Box Score MEDFORD – Freshman Claire Gavin (pictured) scored in her first collegiate game to lift the fourth-ranked Tufts University field hockey team to a 1-0 victory against 10th-ranked Williams College on Saturday at Ounjian Field.
Gavin scored on an aerial shot from the middle of the circle on the left side of the cage with 6:04 on the third-quarter clock. That would give Tufts the win in their first game since November 17, 2019 (664 days ago).
The Jumbos (1-0) dominated defensively for most of the contest before the Ephs (2-1) pressured the Tufts cage in the fourth quarter. Williams did not have a shot until the third quarter. Total attempts finished at eight for Tufts (seven on goal) and three (all on goal) for Williams.
Tufts had a goal disallowed on a corner opporutunity five minutes in, and Gillian Roeca landed the first shot of the game for the Jumbos in the final minute of a relatively quiet first quarter. Williams keeper Carson Stephenson made a nice sliding save on the ball.
Tufts came to life in the second quarter. They produced four corners, including one early in which another goal was not allowed. The Jumbos recorded a 4-0 shots advantage in the second, including two by Roeca. Stephenson was on the spot each time though and the game went to the half scoreless.
The Jumbos made a goalie change to start the second half, going to junior Sam Gibby. She would make a save on Williams' Catherine Torres late in the period after Gavin had given the hosts a lead.
Tufts couldn't take advantage of four corner opportunities to open the fourth and Williams would eventually produce its most sustained offensive momentum later in the period. They earned their first corner eight minutes in with Gibby making a save on Lauren McCarey. On Tufts' clearing attempt, Eph Emily Batchelor stole the ball and had open space in the circle. However, she couldn't control the loose ball in order to capitalize on the opportunity.
Gibby picks up her first collegiate victory, making three saves and sharing a shutout with senior starter Andie Stallman. Stephenson stopped six shots in the Eph end. Corners finished at 10-1 Tufts.
The Jumbos are home again on Tuesday night versus MIT. The Ephs host Smith College that same night. Both games start at 7 pm.
