MIDDLEBURY, VT (October 21, 2023) -- Sophomore
Elsi Aires scored an equalizer in the 59th minute Saturday at Middlebury College, helping the Tufts University women's soccer team come away with a 1-1 draw in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Dragone Field.
The Jumbos (7-3-4, 3-3-3 NESCAC) controlled play for the majority of the match and had great opportunities in the opening half including a shot by
Nicola Sommers that rang off the left post in the 18th minute. In the 26th minute,
Caroline Kelly had a great chance as well but her attempt was stopped by Carolyn Kelley.
Middlebury (5-4-5, 1-4-4 NESCAC) would crack through though at the 33:15 mark of the first half, as Gigi Day hit a shot from outside the box and into the far right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead. The last great chance of the first half for Tufts came in the 42nd minute, as
Waverly Sumner ripped a shot past the keeper but a Panther defender was able to deflect the shot off the line and out.
After the intermission, Tufts finally found the game-tying strike as
Erin Duncan raced down the right side and crossed a ball onto the box. The service met up with the foot of Aires, who slammed home the shot from right in front of goal to deadlock the game at a goal apiece.
Minutes later,
Thalia Greenberg ripped a shot from outside of the box that look destined for the goal but it clanged off the right post and out. The shots would continue to come in bunched for Tufts in the second half, but Kelley was able to make five saves down the stretch to keep the Jumbos off the board as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sumner, Aires and Kelly each fired four shots apiece for the Jumbos, while the three shots on goal by Kelly was tops among Jumbos. Tufts outshot their visitors 18-6 on the day, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.
First-year keeper
Gigi Edwards made two saves between the pipes for the Jumbos as she played all 90 minutes. Kelley finished with six stops in goal for Middlebury.
The Jumbos now sit tied for sixth place in the NESCAC with Hamilton College and Connecticut College with 12 points. The Jumbos can finish as high as third in the NESCAC standings with a win at Bowdoin College Tuesday at 5 p.m. and other results. Tufts can finish anywhere from third to eighth in the regular season standings.
--JUMBOS--
