MEDFORD, MA (September 20, 2025) -- The No. 6 Tufts University women's soccer team scored two first-half goals and shook off a late rally from visiting Hamilton College to earn a 2-1 home win on Bello Field in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos (5-0, 3-0 NESCAC) remained the league's lone undefeated team on Saturday thanks to a strong opening half, as Tufts outshot its visitors 15-3 in the first frame. The field was slanted towards the Jumbos for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, as Tufts hemmed in the Continentals early and often.
In the 13th minute Tufts would get on the board on its fifth shot of the game, as junior Reece Birch netted her second goal of the season to give the Jumbos an early lead. On the sequence, Birch won the ball back in the midfield and pushed a flat ball out to
Maggie Rogers 35 yards away from goal. Rogers would give Birch a return pass 25 yards from goal, and the junior ripped a right-footed, bouncing shot past the Hamilton keeper for the score. Junior
Emily Nicholas was also awarded with an assist on the play.
That's where the score would stay for just about 15 minutes before the Jumbos doubled their lead, this time coming off the right foot of senior
Elsi Aires. After a clearing pass from Hamilton was taken back by
Waverly Sumner, she found senior
Caroline Kelly in the middle 35 yards out. The senior found her classmate just outside the box, and Aires took one touch to her right and ripped a right-footed shot into the top left corner for her fourth goal of the season.
The goal for Aires was her 34th of her career, which ties her for third all-time with Lynn Cooper '01. She now trails only Liz Reed '21 with her 36 goals and all-time leader Lisa Raffin '83 and her 51 scores.
In the 39th minute, sophomore
Audrey Cromett had a great scoring chance but her attempt was saved.
After halftime, Tufts would still pour on the shots but Hamilton got into the game in the 65th minute, pulling a goal back on an own goal to make it 2-1.
Down the stretch, Hamilton had a good scoring attempt by Amelia Johnson but her attempt was deflected up and just over the bar as the Jumbos held on for the win.
Tufts outshot their hosts 28-9 on the day (10-4 SOG) while holding a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. Aires, Nicholas and Kelly each had five shots for the Jumbos. Junior goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards added four saves for Tufts, while first-year
Jordyn Miller also finished with a pair of shots on goal.
Nieve Tonna made eight saves for the Continentals (2-3-1, 0-3-1 NESCAC), while Lila Sullivan had four shots in the loss.
The win for Tufts was its first regular season home win over Hamilton since 2016, and the five-match win streak to start the season for Tufts was matched its longest since 2018 when they started 5-0.
The Jumbos will look for another win on Sunday afternoon, traveling to Connecticut College for a noon start in New London, CT.
--JUMBOS--
