MEDFORD, MA (October 19, 2024) - The Tufts University women's soccer team powered to a 3-0 win over the visiting Middlebury College Panthers in a gleeful senior day New England Small College Athletic Conference match at Bello Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos (10-2-1, 6-2-1 NESCAC) started hot, as they usually do. They were all over Middlebury's (7-1-5, 4-1-3 NESCAC) half of the pitch in the opening minutes of play. The senior day celebrations may have happened pregame, but graduate student
Nicola Sommers carried the jubilation into the game. After a misplayed Panther pass came near Sommers, she unleashed a missile of a shot off her right foot. The ball was already unstoppable, but an out-of-position goalkeeper helped ensure it saw the back of the net. The Jumbos led 1-0 in just 10 minutes and six seconds.
The home side would stifle the opposing offense, with stellar games at the back from seniors
Caroline O'Neill and
Jordan Cushner. Both were instrumental in keeping the Panthers to only two shots on goal through the first half. The Jumbos, meanwhile, put up four shots on goal in the first 45.
The Jumbos would find the back of the net again in the second half. Both teams pulled the trigger with enthusiasm, as they began to pepper shots towards the goal. The Jumbos would score again thanks to Sommers, who poked home a perfectly weighted through-ball played by sophomore
Reese Birch. Her second goal of the game put the Jumbos up 2-0 and provided some much needed insurance against an increasingly-desperate Panthers side.
The Panthers would attempt 14 shots in the second half. Most of them were from range, but seven of them would sneak through the defense, forcing an equal number of saves from sophomore goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards. Edwards would single handedly deny the visitors of their best chance of the day. A shot from the edge of the penalty area was thrust towards Edwards through traffic. The ball would have gone into the top of the net, were it not for Edwards, who leaped into the air to parry the ball over the crossbar and harmlessly out of play.
The Jumbos continued to hold the Panthers off the board, as desperation seeped into every aspect of their play. The hosts were quick to exploit their guest's desperation, as they pressed harder on the attack. Senior
Juliana Rosen attempted one shot in the second half, and steered the ball towards goal, forcing a save out of Middlebury goalkeeper Carolyn Kelley. Junior midfielder
Aoife O'Reilly also piled on the pressure, attempting three shots. Graduate student
Erin Duncan would help lead the charge on the offensive side as the Jumbos sought after a third score.
They would find it just before the final whistle, as they iced the game in the 88th minute. Junior forward
Elsi Aires fired a lofted effort from range, which beat Kelley but not the frame of the goal. The rebound from Aires' shot landed right at O'Reilly's feet, who had nothing more to do than pot the ball into the empty net as the Panther goalkeeper scrambled back into position. Her efforts were not in time, as O'Reilly scored the third and final goal of the game for the home side.
The Jumbos had only a few minutes left to play, which they saw out with ease. They played well to the final whistle to earn their tenth win of the season, and took down the number 12 ranked - previously undefeated - Middlebury College Panthers.
The number 21 ranked Jumbos will play hosts to Bridgewater State University in their final non conference game of the season. They will kick off at Bello Field on Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM.
--JUMBOS--
