Jumbos Score Six Versus Camels

MEDFORD, MA (September 15, 2024) - The Tufts University women's soccer team showed their offensive prowess as they beat Connecticut College by a score of 6-1 at Bello Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Camels (3-2) started off going punch for punch with the Jumbos (3-1) for the first thirty minutes, proving to be a slight challenge to the Jumbos offense. Sophomore goalkeeper Gigi Edwards was tested early as she was forced into a save just three minutes into the match. The Jumbos would snuff out the threat soon after, as they kept the Camels away from Edwards' net and prevented them from putting another shot on goal for the entire opening 45.

Tufts would test the waters on offense, gradually working their way into the tempo of the game. The Jumbos settled in about 30 minutes into the first half, and that is when everything started to click offensively.

Standout striker junior Elsi Aires broke things open for Tufts at the 30 minute mark, with a goal that rewarded her next-level positioning abilities. After a few shots were deflected by the Camels defense, the ball found its way to Aires' feet, where she had only the goalkeeper to beat. A smooth shot into the bottom left of the net was enough to give the Jumbos a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Maren Jones would earn her first Tufts goal just minutes later, as she weaved into the opposing penalty area unmarked. A perfect cross from junior Aoife O'Reilly found Jones wide open in the box, which gave her ample opportunity to pound the ball into the back of the net, doubling the Tufts advantage.

The second half saw the Jumbos really hit their stride. Junior midfielder Caroline Kelly scored for the second time this weekend, as she found the back of the net off a beautiful drop pass by sophomore Emily Nicholas, striking the ball with a single touch and scoring from well outside the penalty area for the third Tufts goal of the match. 

Kelly's stellar strike saw the floodgates truly open. Graduate student Nicola Sommers darted down the right wing, which she had controlled the entire game, and physically pried open the Camels defense. She worked her way into the penalty area, before slipping a cross through the retreating Connecticuters, finding O'Reilly in the penalty area. O'Reilly had only the goalkeeper to beat, which she did with ease, finding the bottom corner of the goal for the 4-0 lead.

The deluge continued, as junior Anna Griffin became the next Jumbo to score. She was able to put the ball in the back of the net thanks to the combined efforts of graduate student Erin Duncan and senior Caroline O'Neill. Despite the five goal lead, Tufts made it clear that they were not done quite yet.

With a hair over ten minutes to go in the match, sophomore Hannah Batt scored the sixth goal for the Jumbos. Similar to Griffin's goal, and assisted by her as well, Batt's score was due to the unfettered chaos the team caused in the penalty area. Griffin was able to control the ball amidst the chaos, and found the waiting feet of Batt. Batt grooved the ball into the back of the net, giving the Jumbos an impressive six goal lead. 

About a minute later, the Camels found some semblance of offensive threat and managed to beat the Jumbos in transition. Priscilla Ameyaw scored with nine minutes remaining with a nice shot from the inside of the penalty area that beat Edwards. With the Camels on the board, the match was all but official as Tufts commanded possession for the remainder of the game. 

The 6-1 win was the largest margin of victory for Tufts since a 6-0 win versus Bridgewater State on October 12 of 2022. 

The Jumbos will return to the field this coming Saturday for a road match at Hamilton on September 21.