Jumbos Blank Profs in 1-0 Win, Advance to Second Round

GENEVA, NY (November 16, 2024) - The Tufts University women's soccer team began their 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship Tournament with a solid 1-0 win over the Rowan University Profs with a strong defensive performance on Cozzens Field in Geneva, NY on Saturday afternoon.

The Jumbos (14-3-1, 7-2-1 NESCAC) applied pressure to the Profs (13-3-2, 8-1 NJAC) from the starting whistle. The forwards, led by leading scorer Elsi Aires, were using their speed to work in behind the Rowan defense almost immediately. Nicola Sommers and Waverly Sumner commanded the wings, feeding Aires in the middle and cutting inside to attempt shots on goal. It took the Jumbos only 102 seconds to put their first shot towards goal, a Reese Birch strike that just sailed over the top of the goal. 

The forwards and midfield created a synergetic brick wall between the two position groups. The Profs tried to get out of their own end, but the persistent play from midfielders Emily Nicholas, Caroline Kelly and Birch swallowed them up before they could escape their half. If the Profs managed to get through the midfield and out of their own end, they were quickly met by a rock solid Tufts defense. Quarterbacked by Lena Sugrue, the defense was as repellant as they have been all season. The Profs managed to scrape together a single shot, which was a ranged effort that was easily scooped up by sophomore goalkeeper Gigi Edwards. The routine save would be her only one of the game, and the only shot on goal that the Profs could muster.

The Jumbos smelled blood in the water, and were peppering the Rowan net with shots. They attempted eight shots in the opening frame, with the only downside to their offensive production being a lack of on-target shots. They steered only two shots on target in the opening frame. The first half would remain scoreless, despite an extremely close call. A shot managed to sneak through the Rowan defense and goaltender alike, and was only saved by a desperate goal line clearance to keep the ball out of the goal.

The second half saw Tufts resume their dominance over possession. The very first shot of the second half would end up being the difference maker of the 90 minute affair. Aires found herself deep in the corner of the Rowan half, and clearly made a decision to score. That decision would be realized, as Aires, with the ball glued to her feet, danced in and out of the Profs defense. She cut to her left, faked to her right, weaved away from the two defenders lunging at her, and snapped a shot off towards goal. No one, not even the camera operator, was ready for Aires to shoot, least of all the opposing goaltender, who made a late dive to her left in a desperate attempt to block the shot that was already well on its way in. The dive was for naught, and the Jumbos bench erupted as they took a much-anticipated one goal lead.

Their work was not over yet, however, as a talented Rowan offense tried to emerge from the ashes. The Jumbos defense was more than up to the task, as Sugrue and the crew held a high line and suffocated the Rowan offense. The Jumbos allowed only one off-target shot in the second half, preventing the Profs from developing any semblance of a comeback. Edwards had a quiet period between the posts, watching the one shot sail wide and distributing for the duration of the half. 
The Jumbos would hear the final whistle as the victors, and advanced to face William Smith in a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship second round. The Jumbos will be in action at 1:00 pm at Cozzens Field in Geneva, NY to take on the Herons in their 3rd second round game in three years.