CAMBRIDGE, MA (September 25, 2024) - The Tufts University women's soccer team played in an energetic non conference match at the number three ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday evening in Steinbrenner Stadium, coming away victorious by a score of 2-0.
The ranked match up began as any other match would, with the two ranked teams feeling each other out in the opening minutes. The Jumbos (4-1-1) launched their first attack, probing into the Engineer's (6-1-1) end of the pitch, before winning an early corner. Tufts stacked bodies in the penalty area, ready to receive the cross delivered by sophomore
Reese Birch. Birch's cross was perfect, falling right into the frothing mass of players in the penalty area. After an initial touch from an Engineer, sophomore
Emily Nicholas flicked the ball up into the air, and smoothly fired a volley off at the MIT net. Her shot had enough lift and power to float over the leaping goalkeeper Cassidy Jennings, giving the Jumbos a 1-0 lead inside of five minutes.
The Engineers, shocked by the opening sucker punch, were quick to regain their footing. They launched an attack of their own, putting pressure on the Jumbos back line. The back four for Tufts was more than up to the task, however. Bending, not breaking, was the key for the defense led by centerbacks
Lena Sugrue and
Caroline O'Neill. On their flanks was sophomore
Rachel Arcella and senior
Jordan Cushner, the latter of which stood out in the left back position.
Cushner linked up with graduate student
Nicola Sommers on the left side of the pitch, and together they completely dominated their side.
Try as they might, MIT simply could not get to sophomore goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards, being escorted to the wings by force. The Engineers would attempt nine shots in the opening 45, with all but one being blocked or missing wide. The one shot on goal was a direct shot at Edwards, who was completely stationary while making the only save she had to in the first half.
The Engineers opened the second half with a spark of energy, but just as they had in the first half, the defense snuffed it out. Tufts marched down the field once more, and a foul in an opportune area presented the Jumbos with a threatening free kick. That threat would materialize as junior midfielder
Caroline Kelly stepped up to take the kick. Instead of distributing the ball to a teammate, Kelly went straight for the goal, blasting a rocket of a shot past Jennings and giving the Jumbos some much-needed insurance.
From the second goal on, it was all Tufts. The Jumbos were quick to suffocate any offensive threat the Engineers posed, and allowed them very few scoring opportunities. While the depth of the MIT bench saw them put two shots on Edwards' goal in the second half, the chances were not of a high enough quality to truly concern Tufts.
Junior
Elsi Aires was as strong as ever, and even though she would not wind up on the scoresheet, her impact reverberated around the pitch. Aries would match the team high with two shot attempts, one of them forcing a diving save from Jennings.
Tufts did well to hang on to their two goal lead despite the best efforts of the Engineers, and come full time, they came away victorious with their second shutout of the season.
The Jumbos will be back in action this weekend with a NESCAC match at Wesleyan. Kick off is at noon in Middletown.
--JUMBOS--
