Caroline Kelly Breaks Single Game Assist Record as Jumbos Beat Pride 6-0

WESTON, MA (September 10, 2025) - The Tufts University women's soccer team traveled to Regis College for their first road game of the 2025 season and wasted no time in gaining the advantage on Wednesday afternoon at Regis Stadium.

The Jumbos (2-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) scored within the first minute, making quick work of the Regis (0-4-1, 0-1-0 GNAC) defense. The offense was supercharged by dynamic senior midfielder Caroline Kelly as they marched down the field and won a corner kick in the opening seconds. Kelly delivered a fantastic service to junior Emily Nicholas, who was waiting on the back post. A well-placed header into the bottom right corner gave the Jumbos a 1-0 lead in a flash.

15 minutes went by with the Jumbos humming along. Their defense was able to rest at midfield as the offense moved the ball around the Regis penalty area. Their effort and persistence was rewarded with a corner kick, which was once again delivered by Kelly to the back post. This time it was senior defender Lena Sugrue on the other end of the cross. She finished with an unstoppable header through the hands of the opposing goalkeeper for the second goal of the game.

Senior forward Elsi Aires decided to get in on the fun a minute later, rebounding a Kelly shot that was parried by the opposing netminder. A simple shot to the far post was enough to beat the scrambling goalkeeper and put the Jumbos up 3-0, giving Kelly her third assist of the half.

The Jumbos saw out the half without any drama on their own half whatsoever. The Pride were unable to muster a single shot through the entire opening frame.

The second half opened with a return to form for the Jumbos. It took just six minutes for the brown and blue to net their fourth. This time it was rookie Jordyn Miller who found herself with a shooting lane at the top of the penalty area after receiving the ball from Aires. Miller delivered a beautiful strike over the goalkeeper's head for the fourth Tufts goal of the game and the first of her Tufts career.

10 minutes later, Kelly became the maestra behind as she stood over a free kick in an opportune area for service. Kelly delivered a driven ball towards the fracas of bodies in front of goal, finding the foot of junior Reese Birch amid the fray. A powerful volley blasted past the Regis defense to put Tufts ahead by five goals.

Kelly's fourth assist in the match broke the school record for assists in a game, breaking a record that had been held since Sandra Calvert assisted three goals against Wellesley in 1979.

Soon after, the unrelenting pressure by the Tufts offense was rewarded once more after they were awarded a penalty kick. Senior Camille Lu stepped up to take the kick and scored the Jumbos' sixth goal of the game and her first of the season.

The Jumbos would not yield a single shot to the Pride until the very last minute. The shot was effortlessly stopped by freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Fouché for her first and only save of the match. 

The Jumbos won 6-0 without much fanfare, and will return to NESCAC play on Saturday as they head up north to take on Colby College at 12:30 pm.