MEDFORD, MA (November 8, 2025) -- Sophomore midfielder
Maren Jones scored her fourth goal of the season in the 78th minute to break a 2-2 tie, helping lift the No. 3 and top-seeded Tufts University women's soccer squad to a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 24 and fifth-seed Colby College in the 2025 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Semifinals Saturday from Bello Field.
The Jumbos (14-1-2) will now battle No. 10 and second-seed Williams College in the NESCAC title game Sunday at 3 p.m. following the Eph's 2-1 win over No. 3 seed Middlebury College in the second semifinal of the evening.
Tufts came out like they have much of the season, getting on the offensive right away scoring on its very first shot of the contest thanks to the second tally of the season by junior
Waverly Sumner. On the play, senior
Elsi Aires forced a turnover and Sumner gained possession 25 yards away from goal. Sumner made three moves and then broke in alone before finishing a left-footed shot for the score.
Colby would get two great chances over the next few minutes, including a great look by Abigail Jarvi but junior
Gigi Edwards made a diving save to keep the Mules off the board.
In the 18th minute, Tufts earned a corner kick and
Reese Birch knocked in a rebound off of a shot by
Lena Sugrue off of the left post to double the lead at 27:41 of the opening half.
From that point, the Mules would take control of the contest, pushing back before getting on the board in the 25th minute on a goal by Jarvi with help from Amanda Schneider. Schneider had a strong chance in the 44th minute that whizzed wide, which ended up being the last good opportunity for either team in the first half.
The Mules would tie the game just after the start of the second half, as Ella Caraluzzi drove in on the right flank and lifted a shot over Edwards' arm to even the contest at two.
Tufts would start to regain its footing though midway through the closing frame, starting to earn the ball more in the midfield. That would lead to the third and eventual game-winning goal, as Birch won a ball back, made a great move and fed a lofted through ball to Jones. The sophomore gathered the ball down and ripped a right-footed shot into the left side netting for the score.
The Jumbos nearly put the game away in the 87th minute, as first-year
Claire Brady had a good look on net but she was denied of the insurance goal. The last gasp for the Mules came with under a minute to go, but a high arching shot by Annie Liebich was gathered by Edwards to help lock down the victory.
Colby held a small 12-11 edge in shots on Saturday, while the Jumbos picked up six of the 10 corner kicks in the game. Birch had a goal and an assist to pace the Jumbo offense, while Edwards made seven saves for the Jumbos in cage. MK Marshall and Sadie Gardner combined to make four saves for the Mules (10-4-3).
As for Sunday's NESCAC FInal, Williams holds a 4-2-0 edge over Tufts in the NESCAC Tournament series. The teams last met in the 2022 quarterfinals, with Tufts winning 2-0. The 2025 championship game is notable as the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up since 2018 (No. 1 Williams vs. No. 2 Middlebury) and only the fourth in conference tournament history. The Ephs have participated in all four No. 1/No. 2 championship games.
Tufts defeated Williams 2-1 in the opening game of the season for the Jumbos on September 6 on Bello Field.
--JUMBOS--
