MEDFORD, MA (September 10, 2025) – Goals by sophomore
Riley Schmidt and junior
Katarina Villa along with a strong defensive effort gave #7 Tufts University a 2-0 victory against #23 MIT in non-conference field hockey action tonight at Ounjian Field.
For the second time in three games this season, the Jumbos did not let an opponent's shot get through to the goal. Tonight Tufts limited MIT to one shot attempt, late in the game, which was blocked.
Though Tufts had advantages of 13-0 in shots and 4-0 in corners at the half, MIT junior goalie Maeve Zimmer was excellent in the first 30 minutes and helped keep the score 0-0. She had seven saves in the first quarter and two more in the second, including an outstanding stick save on a high shot by Tufts sophomore
Hannah Murray.
The Jumbos were able to take the lead during a corner nine minutes into the third quarter. Senior co-captain
Gabby Sousa rolled a pass down to Schmidt in front of the cage. An MIT defender blocked her first attempt, but her next shot got through and went in off an Engineer player.
Moving to the fourth quarter, Villa's goal was the first of her collegiate career and also came on a corner. Murray, who put five shots on goal tonight, fired one that Zimmer saved. However, the rebound came right back to Murray and she sent a pass back to Villa near the edge of the circle. She moved in a few steps and back-handed a shot that slid into the cage for a 2-0 Tufts advantage with eight minutes left in regulation.
Tufts finished with a 26-1 lead in shots and 11-1 in corners. Zimmer made 16 stops overall, while Tufts senior
Lydia Eastburn earned her second shutout of the season without having to make a save. It's the 11th of her career.
The Jumbos (2-1) have had six different goal scorers in their three games thus far. MIT falls to 2-3 with the loss.
Tufts heads up to Colby College for a NESCAC game on Saturday afternoon starting at 1 PM.
--JUMBOS--
