BABSON PARK, MA (November 11, 2023) – Junior Mia D'Angelo and senior Rachel Scrivanich scored goals less than three minutes apart in the second quarter to help the Tufts University field hockey team take a 2-1 win over Rowan University in the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA Tournament today at Babson College.

Tufts (13-5) will now face host Babson in the "Elite 8" on Sunday at 1 PM with a berth into the "Final Four" on the line. The Beavers earned a 1-0 overtime victory against Bates College in Saturday's other second-round game at the site. Rowan saw its season come to an end at 12-8 today.

The Profs got on the scoreboard first during a corner when junior Julia Cavicchio took the insert from first-year Aurelia McManis at the top of the circle and rifled a shot into the cage with 42 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Tufts had a goal disallowed on a first-quarter corner, and then found themselves trailing 1-0 before putting together some offensive momentum that would ultimately determine the game.

With seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, Jumbo sophomore Meghan MacDonald brought the ball into the top right portion of the circle and reverse swept a pass towards the left post which eluded the kick of Rowan first-year keeper Mariah Juiliano. D'Angelo, on her hands and knees, was able to poke the ball in to tie the game.

The Jumbos would defend a Rowan penalty corner at the other end without allowing a shot. Tufts would soon earn a corner of their own with 4:44 on the second-quarter clock. D'Angelo inserted to senior co-captain Andrea DelGiudice, who moved it along to sophomore Gabby Sousa who was open for a shot at the top right of the circle. Her attempt went off a Rowan defender right to Scrivanich at the right post and she put it in for a 2-1 Tufts lead.

Into the second half, the Jumbos would have more of the scoring opportunities as they forced Juiliano into making five saves in the third and fourth corners combined.

Jumbo sophomore goalkeeper Lydia Eastburn had saves when Rowan junior Vanessa DiDonato got through to the right post for a shot early in the fourth quarter, and again when Cavicchio bounced a shot on goal during a corner. Tufts, led defensively by senior co-captain Kate Lee, were able to hold off a late Rowan charge to secure the victory.

Shots in the game finished at 11-7 for Tufts, though Rowan had more corners 5-2. Juiliano stopped five shots for the Profs and Eastburn made three saves for the Jumbos.

Tufts will be playing for its sixth Final Four trip overall tomorrow.