MEDFORD, MA (September 12, 2023) – Sixth-ranked Tufts University scored twice in the first 12 minutes leading to a 3-2 victory over #19 MIT in non-conference field hockey action on Tuesday night at Ounjian Field.
The visiting Engineers (2-3) scored off a corner with no time remaining in regulation to cut the final margin to one goal. Tufts (3-0) had led 3-1 since halftime.
The Jumbos scored just 1:13 into the action as sophomore
Hannah Biccard knocked in a rebound during a corner opportunity after a shot on goal by senior
Lainie Pearson.
After Jumbo sophomore goalie
Lydia Eastburn turned aside MIT's first shot of the game, Tufts would score again just two minutes after their first strike. Biccard had the assist setting up senior
Rachel Scrivanich for her first of the season on the left side and the Jumbos led 2-0.
Tufts would put 10 shots towards the MIT cage in the first, forcing Engineer keeper Maeve Zimmer to make four saves in the opening 15 minutes.
The Engineers would cut the gap in half early in the second quarter. After a Tufts turnover while trying to clear their defensive zone, MIT's Paige Forester won a ball at the top of the circle and got it through a Jumbo defender to Eva Oppenheim. Her attempt was smothered by Eastburn, but she was able to put the rebound towards Lilly Ladd near the left post and she scored to make it 2-1.
The Jumbos regained their two-goal lead late in the half. Gavin nicely rebounded a shot by Biccard for a goal with 1:34 remaining in the period for a 3-1 Tufts margin.
MIT, who did not have a corner in the first half, would get four in the second half. However, they weren't able to get a shot on net during any of these opportunities until the last one. On the second of back-to-back corners to finish the game, Alice Zehner inserted out to Ingrid Tomovski and her drive glanced into the goal for the 3-2 final.
The Engineers were able to blank the Jumbos in the second half, with Zimmer making five saves in the third and fourth quarters to finish with 12. Eastburn recorded two for Tufts.
The final numbers had Tufts up 27-7 in total shots, 15-4 on goal and 5-4 for corners.
Tufts returns to NESCAC play at home on Saturday against Amherst in a noon start.
--JUMBOS--
