MEDFORD, MA (September 27, 2025) – First-year
Eleanor Helm scored a goal and assisted two others, and senior goalie
Lydia Eastburn stopped 10 shots as the eighth-ranked Tufts University field hockey team won 4-1 in NESCAC action against #12 Wesleyan University today at Ounjian Field.
The Jumbos' three-goal win was not indicative of the game, which featured back-and-forth action and an edge to Wesleyan for the second half. However, the Jumbos were advantageous on offense and strong defensively to improve to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in NESCAC. Wesleyan fell to 4-3 and 3-2 in the conference.
Tufts took a 1-0 lead four minutes into the game when on a restart
Camille Clarke sent the ball across the field to Helm just inside the left curve of the circle. With a defender on her, she turned and lifted a shot into the far right corner of the cage for her fourth goal of the year.
Wesleyan evened the score just four minutes later on a corner. After inserting the ball, Leila Feldman near the left post received a pass from Georgia Adams through the Jumbo defense. Feldman whacked it in and it was 1-1.
A three-goal first quarter saw the Jumbos take a 2-1 advantage on a
Hannah Murray goal with five minutes to play in the first frame.
Eleanor Luft sent the ball in from the left side and it deflected to Murray who was open to score on a blast from the middle of the circle.
Four of the five goals in the game would be scored in the first half, and Tufts would get another to lead by two. After the Cardinals turned the ball over in their own end, Helm took it and worked her way toward the goal on the left. She tapped a pass over to
Hannah Biccard who created some space and drilled home her seventh goal for a 3-1 Jumbos lead three minutes into the second quarter.
Wesleyan would have the better of the play in the second half, but Eastburn and the Jumbo defense were able to keep them off the scoreboard. The Cardinals had 10 corners and 12 shots in the second half, but Eastburn made six saves to maintain the Jumbo lead.
Tufts would end up adding to the margin on another great set-up by Helm late in the game. From the right side of the circle, she found
Sophie Brants in front for the fourth Jumbo goal with 24 seconds left in regulation.
Shots and corners favored Wesleyan for the game, 20-13 and 15-2, respectively. Eastburn had her busiest day of the season so far and came through with the 10 saves. Audrey Pace saved five shots in the Wesleyan end.
The Jumbos get right back at it on Sunday with a non-conference contest against the University of Rochester at Ounjian Field.
--JUMBOS--
