Field Hockey Takes Two-Win Conference Weekend With 2-1 Victory Over Camels

NEW LONDON, CT (September 21, 2025) - After allowing the game's first goal, the seventh-ranked Tufts University field hockey team scored twice within five minutes and made it stand for a 2-1 NESCAC victory at Connecticut College on Sunday.

The victory completes a two-win conference weekend for the Jumbos, who defeated Hamilton College at home on Saturday 2-0. Tufts is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in NESCAC.

Connecticut College (3-3, 1-3) had taken a 1-0 lead today off a corner opportunity 1:29 into the second quarter. During a scramble for the ball just left of the cage, the Camels' Reese Ziegler was able to tap it over to Elizabeth Bonner open in front and she scored to put the hosts ahead.

However, the lead did not last long. Just 100 seconds later, the Jumbos scored on a corner. Sophie Brants inserted out to Claire Casey at the top left side of the circle. Her blast was tipped along the way by Hannah Biccard for her sixth goal of the year to tie the game at 1-1.

Four and a half minutes later, the Jumbos took the lead after Reagan Malo got her stick on a Camel clearing pass to turn it over to the Jumbos. Katarina Villa then fed the ball to Hannah Murray entering the circle. She got by a defender and then her shot deflected off the goalie's foot and in for a 2-1 Tufts advantage. The goal was the first of the Tufts sophomore's career.

The action would ramp up in the second half, but remarkably neither team was able to score. In the third quarter, Tufts would earn 12 penalty corner chances and put nine shots on goal. However, Camel keeper Isabelle Carnall stopped eight shots and the hosts also got a defensive save from Katie Dolan.

The Jumbos would then have to hold on to the lead in the fourth quarter, as Connecticut College received six corner attempts in the final 15 minutes. They put two shots on net, but Tufts keeper Lydaa Eastburn made both saves.

In the second half overall, the teams combined for 17 shots (11-6 Tufts) and 22 corners (14-8 Tufts).

Final totals for the game had the Jumbos with advantages of 18-8 in shots and 21-10 in corners. Carnall was busy for the Camels with 11 saves, while Eastburn made five of her six saves in the second half to help seal the victory.