BABSON PARK, MA (November 12, 2023) – Second-ranked Babson College defeated #10 Tufts University 1-0 today in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Quarterfinals to earn a berth into next weekend's "Final Four".
Junior Jessica Evans scored for the host Beavers (22-1) early in the second quarter and Babson was able to limit the Jumbos' offensive opportunities the rest of the way to secure the victory. Tufts' season ends with a 13-6 record.
The first quarter was the most action-filled of the game, with both teams getting good scoring chances. Tufts defended three Babson corners in the period and Jumbo sophomore
Carly Iacullo had a defensive save when Babson graduate student Brianne McGrath got through for a shot close in on the right side. For Tufts, sophomore
Gabby Sousa's shot on a corner zipped wide and was nearly deflected in front of the goal by junior
Mia D'Angelo.
Babson's scoring play was created by graduate student Sinead Walsh who won a ball at the 23-meter line. She curled around the defense and sent a pass in to graduate student Jackie Hill, whose shot was saved by Tufts sophomore keeper
Lydia Eastburn. However, the ball deflected up into the air and Evans was there to bat it in just 64 seconds into the quarter.
The Jumbos would get their only shot on goal early in the second half. Sophomore
Hannah Biccard had the chance after a ball was deflected to her when senior
Lainie Pearson sent it into the circle. However, Biccard couldn't get much on her turn-around shot and Babson junior goalie Bayla Furmanek kicked it away.
The game went to the fourth quarter before another penalty corner was awarded – the first since the first quarter. Babson earned it with 5:41 on the clock, but the Jumbos again defended it well.
In the final minutes of regulation, McGrath was able to run time off the clock with her stickwork in the right corner of Tufts' end. The Jumbos weren't able to break the stall until 30 seconds remained. Though they advanced the ball to Babson's side of the field, they could not get into the scoring area for a final shot at tying it.
Babson finished with advantages of 7-2 in shots and 4-1 in corners. Eastburn made four saves in the Jumbo cage compared to the one by Furmanek for Babson.
The Beavers will play Middlebury College in the Final Four next Friday at Christopher Newport University. Kean and Johns Hopkins will meet in Friday's other semifinal, with the national championship game set for Sunday.
--JUMBOS--
