MEDFORD, MA (November 16, 2024) -- The No. 3 Tufts University field hockey squad fell behind only 3:25 into the contest against No. 22 Rowan University, but the Jumbos responded with three unanswered tallies to earn a 3-1 win in the 2024 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament Second Round at Ounjian Field.
With the victory, Tufts will advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday at 1 p.m. to battle either Bates College or Babson College.
Despite the win, the Jumbos would have to play from behind for a majority of the first quarter, as Rowan senior Allie Palumbo converted a shot from the top of the circle on the game's first penalty corner at 3:25 to make it 1-0. Palumbo was set up by Paige Grey, as the tally was the senior's 17th of the season.
From that point, Tufts would put on the pressure, taking nine of the 10 shots in the opening period. The breakthrough would come in the 12th minute for Tufts, as senior midfielder
Lainie Pearson netted her first of the season. On the play, senior
Kylie Rosenquest walked in and forced a save from Mariah Juiliano but the rebound snuck right to Pearson. Pearson stepped into the shot from 10 yards out in front and snuck the shot into the right corner for the goal.
Tufts would continue to pressure in the second period, taking its first lead of the contest at 25:41 of the game on the seventh goal of the year from senior
Claire Gavin. The sequence featured another loose ball in front off of a shot attempt, as Gavin reverse flicked a shot with power past Juiliano for the 2-1 edge.
The Jumbos led at the break 2-1, but had an 18-2 shot edge along with a 6-1 penalty corner advantage.
In the third quarter, Rowan (15-8) started to push back and had some great chances including one in the 43rd minute as Tufts goalkeeper
Lydia Eastburn had to make a sprawling save to deny Mia Foti.
The Profs continued to pressure, as Eastburn was forced to make two fourth-quarter saves early in the period to keep Tufts ahead. The clinching goal would come late in the fourth quarter for Tufts, as Rosenquest deflected in a cross from Gavin with just over three minutes to go for her seventh of the season and some insurance.
The goal would be the game's final shot, as the Jumbos punched their ticket into the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Gavin finished with a team-high eight shots, as she was a terror down the right wing for Tufts all game long. Gavin's five shots on goal were a game-high as well, while
Hannah Biccard also finished with five shot attempts. Tufts posted a 28-7 shot edge for the contest, including a 16-4 advantage in shots on goal. Eastburn finished with three stops in cage for the Jumbos.
Rowan was led by Palumbo and her two shots on goal, while Juiliano finished with 13 saves.
The Jumbos head back to the Elite 8 round for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years, while looking to get to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2018 Sunday.
--JUMBOS--
