Box Score 
MEDFORD- The Tufts University women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the year against MIT with a score of 3-0 at Bello Field on Tuesday afternoon.
This places the Jumbos at 3-1-0 with MIT going to 7-0-1 and still without a loss this season.
The Engineers came out with an aggressive approach claiming the first four shots on goal. MIT forward Meagan Rowlett had a shot saved by Jumbo goalie Hayley Bernstein just 50 seconds into the game. Tufts was unable to get a shot off until five minutes into the first period when a header by midfielder Maddie Pero (pictured) went just wide of the net.
The Engineers continued to threaten with a shot by midfielder Natalie Barnouw going off the crossbar at the sixth minute. Liz Reed created a good opportunity for the Jumbos when her shot also went off the crossbar at 17 minutes. The offensive charge by MIT would pay off when at the 20th minute when defender Sarah Moseson made a beautiful pass to forward Karenna Groff who buried the shot in the back of the net.
Tufts went on a run at the end of the first period with the final three shots on goal. Two impressive saves by the Engineers goalie Ava Gillikin and a blocked shot kept the score at 1-0. Tufts held the slight advantage in shots with nine as opposed to MIT's eight over the first 45 minutes.
MIT picked up right where they left off, scoring just seven minutes into the second period. Bernstein made a great save off a shot by defender Allison Tong, but the ball dribbled back to Mia Sedgwick giving MIT an open net goal for a 2-0 margin.
Tufts made an offensive charge in the second period with eight shots on goal compared to MIT's four. A header by defender Kylie Metcalf was blocked and went just off the right post at the 67th minute.
At the 73rd minute Rowlett would score MIT's third goal with a shot that went just over the outstretched arms of Bernstein into the top of the net.
Tufts had another offensive run to end the game claiming four of the final five shots. However, three saves by Gillikin, including a sliding play to stop a low shot by Melina McDevitt, would secure the win for the Engineers. An MIT shot in the last two seconds of the game was caught by Bernstein cementing the final score at 3-0.
The defense of MIT was strong with Gillikin having eight saves in the game. This brings her record on the season to 3-0-1. Bernstein (three saves) drops to 3-1 on the season.
Tufts ended with 17 shots and MIT with 12. Corners were 5-1 Jumbos.
Tufts plays again this Saturday at Colby at 12:30 pm. The Engineers will return home where they will face Mount Holyoke Saturday at 1 pm.
Written by Dani Vittori, Athletic Communications Intern
