MEDFORD, MA (September 20, 2025) – Goals by first-year
Eleanor Helm and junior
Lilly Ragusa and another solid defensive performance gave the seventh-ranked Tufts University field hockey team a 2-0 victory over #18 Hamilton College in a key early-season NESCAC game today at Ounjian Field.
The win lifts Tufts to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in NESCAC play. Hamilton falls to 4-2 and 1-2 in the conference.
After a scoreless first quarter, Hamilton would earn three corners during the second quarter to none for the Jumbos. The first one resulted in a shot on goal by Claire Tratnyek, but Tufts keeper
Lydia Eastburn made the save.
However, the Jumbos would strike first 25 minutes into the action after Helm retrieved the ball in the far left corner of the circle. She maneuvered along the end line towards goal and took a shot that was partially blocked by a Continental defender. The bouncing ball eluded the goalkeeper at the left post and Tufts led 1-0. The goal was Helm's third of the year.
The Continentals would end the game with a 7-2 advantage in corners, but would not capitalize on any of them. It was the Jumbos who would take advantage on one of their two corners in the game late in the third to go up 2-0.
After
Eleanor Luft received the insert by Ragusa, she sent the ball left to
Claire Casey. Stick-handling nicely to get around a Hamilton defender and open up shooting space, Casey drove a shot toward goal that Ragusa at the left post knocked home with just under two minutes remaining in the third.
Into the fourth quarter, Hamilton received three of its corner attempts. Eastburn saved one and Jumbos blocked two other shots to help the team preserve the shutout.
Tufts has now blanked four of their six opponents this season. Eastburn made three saves today for the 12th shutout of her career. Abby Griffin and Kelly Janssen split halves in goal for Hamilton, with each making two saves.
Shots finished 9-6 in favor of the Jumbos.
Tufts continues a busy weekend with a 1:00 conference game tomorrow at Connecticut College.
--JUMBOS--
