ROCHESTER, NY (November 19, 2023) -- Sophomore
Elsi Aires scored her sixth goal of the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament in the 82nd minute, propelling the Tufts University women's soccer team to a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over No. 6 University of Rochester in play from Edwin Fauver Stadium Sunday evening.
The win was the Jumbos (11-5-4) fourth of the NCAA Tournament, and Tufts moves into the NCAA Semifinals for the third time in program history and the first since doing it in 2005. Tufts also made the NCAA Final Four in 2000. The run has been one of the stories of the NCAA Tournament, as Tufts was one of the last teams selected as an "at-large" pick but has made the most of their opportunity defeating three ranked teams including two on their home field.
Tufts will now move on to battle California Lutheran University Thursday, November 30 at 3 p.m. in Salem, VA at Kerr Stadium on the campus of Roanoke College. Cal Lutheran defeated No. 1 Christopher Newport University in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 to move into the NCAA Semifinals, while Washington University of St. Louis and Messiah College will play in the other semifinal at 6:30 p.m.
As for Sunday's game, the two teams battled through a scoreless first half but there were plenty of chances including a great chance by the previously undefeated Yellowjackets (15-1-5) in the second minute, as a header by Sydney Holmes went just high off a free kick. Minutes later, Tufts'
Nicola Sommers had a good chance with a header off of a corner kick, but her attempt also went high.
The Jumbos would have another great chance in the 41st minute, as
Casey Lam put a bicycle kick on frame but it was gathered on the backpost by the Rochester keeper. The pressure kept coming in the final minutes of the opening half for Tufts, as three attempts were stopped by UR's Grace Kuropatkin while another shot by Lam whizzed just high.
In the second half, Rochester had a great opportunity as a shot from Megan Pung clanged off the crossbar and out in the 69th minute. Tufts goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards would be asked to make two stops through the early going of the second stanza, while Tufts had a few solid chances including a 78th minute shot from first-year
Waverly Sumner.
The deciding play would come at the 81:10 mark of the contest, as Sumner worked her way down the left sideline with speed. After entering the left side of the box, Sumner pushed a past over to Aires, who took a touch and rocketed a shot into the top right side netting for 14th goal of the season. The goal tied Aires with Ariel Samuelson for third-most goals in a season in Tufts women's soccer program history.
After the goal, Tufts would lock down the game as it wouldn't allow another shot for the Yellowjackets in moving into the next round. The Jumbos outshot their hosts 15-10 on the game, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. Tufts also posted a 6-1 edge in corner kicks as Aires took seven shots for the Jumbos. Edwards finished with three stops to earn her fourth shutout of the season and second of the NCAA Tournament.
Tufts will be making its first NCAA semifinal since the 2005 season, when it fell to The College of New Jersey 3-0 in the NCAA Semifinals in Greensboro, NC. Prior to that Tufts also played in the NCAA Final Four in 2000, when it hosted the semifinals on Kraft Field and knocked off Wisconsin-Stevens Point 1-0 before falling to TCNJ 2-1 in the national title game.
--JUMBOS--
