MEDFORD, MA (October 2, 2022) -- Trinity College's Gabby Grattan headed home a Cassie Lee corner kick in the 58th minute, providing the margin of victory for the No. 22 Bantams as the No. 6 Tufts University women's soccer team fell 1-0 at home in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Bello Field Sunday afternoon.
The big factor in Sunday's contest was the wind and who had it at their back, as the team playing into the consistent 20 MPH winds struggled to get much going. In the first half, it was Tufts (6-2-1, 4-2-1 NESCAC) that was aided by the weather as dominated play and took seven of the eight shots in the opening 45 minutes including three shots on net.
The best chance for the Jumbos in the first half came in the 29th minute, as
Maddie Pero had her attempt saved by Bantam keeper Mariana Cournoyer. In the 39th minute, Tufts had another chance but an
Elsi Aires shot was stopped by Cournoyer. After the intermission, the Bantams started to play back at Tufts and took three of the first four shots of the second half before getting a corner kick off a blocked attempt from Grattan. On the ensuing corner, Grattan went up and headed down the cross for the eventual game-winner 13 minutes into the second stanza.
Following the goal, Tufts started to put the pressure on Trinity (5-0-5, 3-0-3 NESCAC) as it got its best shot in the second half on another Pero attempt that whizzed just wide of the left post. Tufts had a few more advances into the final third, but wasn't able to get push through for an equalizer down the stretch.
Tufts outshot their visitors on Sunday 14-6, while each team was awarded two corner kicks. Pero finished with five shots to lead all players in the contest, while
Claire Wilkinson also fired two attempts. Cournoyer finished with four stops in the victory for the Bantams, who posted their seventh shutout of the season.
The Jumbos will have a full week off before heading to New England College Sunday, October 9 at 1 p.m. for non-conference action.
--JUMBOS--
