LEWISTON, ME (October 12, 2024) - The Tufts University women's soccer team defeated the Bates College Bobcats by a score of 3-1 at the Russell Street Track and Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos (8-2-1, 4-2-1 NESCAC) have made starting strong an emphasis throughout the 2024 season. This match was exemplary of that, as Tufts scored in the sixth minute, notching a goal before the ten minute mark for the seventh time this season. Junior forward
Elsi Aires was the goalscorer to break the match open, as she found herself on the receiving end of a cross played through a narrow window by graduate student
Nicola Sommers. Aires had only the Bobcats (4-6-1, 1-6-0 NESCAC) goalkeeper to beat, and she did so easily with a shot to the left of the goal. The Jumbos jumped out to an early 1-0 lead once again.
The first half saw much of the play go the Jumbos way, with the defense, led by junior
Lena Sugrue, was stalwart in their protection of the goal. Sophomore goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards only saw two shots come her way in the first half, with only one of those needing a save. The foundation provided by the defense allowed the offense to really go to work. The Jumbos would attempt nine shots in the first half alone, with five of them landing on target.
Sugrue herself would make a contribution offensively, as she pushed forward to attack on a corner kick. When the set piece was delivered by junior
Caroline Kelly, Sugrue was on the receiving end. She rose above the leaping Bobcat defenders and nodded a powerful header past the Bates goalkeeper Ruby Reimann. The Jumbos now had their second goal to double their lead.
The midfield was also instrumental in the strong first half performance by Tufts, as they did a great job of holding the Bates midfielders at bay, and disrupted their attempts at transitioning through the neutral third. Sophomore
Reese Birch was electric on both sides of the ball, and while her efforts wouldn't wind up on the scoresheet, she put on a show attempting three shots with two on goal, and flashing some fantastic dribbling abilities in the attacking third.
The second half saw Bates regain their footing in the match. They began to put more pressure on the Jumbos defense, and won an opportune free kick within shooting range. Bobcat defender Grace Gesmondi stepped up to take the set piece and delivered a high-powered shot just off the fingertips of a leaping Edwards. The Bobcats had halved their deficit, but the Jumbos were in no mood to cede another score to their hosts.
The Jumbos ramped up the intensity, racking up nine shots and five corner kicks in the second half alone. A substitution to the front line saw freshman
Sarah Hauck step in at striker, and she delivered. Graduate student
Erin Duncan played a perfectly weighted through ball to the weak side of the Bates defense. Wide open on the back post was Hauck, who made a difficult finish past a charging Reimann look easy. The Jumbos had scored with only 12 minutes remaining, leaving little time for the Bobcats to bounce back from the 3-1 deficit.
The Bobcats tried, but the defense, still led by Sugrue and senior
Caroline O'Neill defused their repeated attacks towards goal. The Jumbos would play out to the final whistle to win by a score of 3-1.
The Jumbos win sees them improve to 4-2-1 in conference play, and extend their winning streak to three games. The Jumbos will continue NESCAC play next Tuesday in another road match at Amherst College. Kick off is at 3:45 PM.
--JUMBOS--
