MEDFORD, MA (October 29, 2026) – For the second straight year and fifth time overall, the Tufts University field hockey team is the #1 seed for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament. Head coach
Tina Mattera's Jumbos will open play in the quarterfinals on Saturday (Oct. 31) against eighth-seed Colby College at home on Ounjian Field.
NESCAC Championship Quarterfinals
Tufts Game Details
Opponent: vs. Colby College (8-7, 3-7 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 12:00 Noon
Location: Medford, MA (Ounjian Field)
Weather: Sunny, Low 50s, Rain 0%, Wind NNW 11 mph
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts finished its NESCAC schedule with a perfect 10-0 mark for the first time in school history. The Jumbos are undefeated at 15-0 overall, and will attempt to match the program's best unbeaten streak to start a season on Saturday. The 2008 Jumbo squad won its first 16 games before losing in the NESCAC Championship Game. That team was 9-0 in NESCAC, at a time when Hamilton College was not yet a member of NESCAC in field hockey. The current Tufts squad is on 20-game winning streak overall.
Colby defeated in-state rival Bates College, 2-0, on Tuesday to earn the eighth and final spot into the NESCAC Tournament. The Mules, coached by Allison Whittemore, 8-7 overall (3-7 NESCAC), are in the conference tournament for the first time since 2019. They will be looking to advance to their first NESCAC semifinal since 2004.
If Tufts wins the quarterfinal against Colby, they advance to host the NESCAC semifinals and final at Ounjian November 7-8.
Tufts vs. Colby All-Time
This is the 52nd meeting between the teams, with Tufts dominating the series which started in 1976. The Jumbos have a 40-11 record against Colby overall, including wins in 23 of the last 24 games dating back to 2004. The last Colby win in the series was by a 2-1 score in 2022. On September 12 of this year, the Jumbos earned a 5-0 win over the Mules behind three goals and an assist from sophomore
Eleanor Helm.
This is the third time Tufts and Colby have played in the NESCAC Tournament. The previous two games were quarterfinals won by Tufts in 2008 (5-1) and 2019 (4-1).
A Look At The Jumbos (15-0, 10-0 NESCAC)
The defending NCAA Champions, Tufts has successfully battled to be unbeaten thus far. The Jumbos' 10-0 NESCAC season has included three overtime wins against Wesleyan (2-1 in 2 OTs), Hamilton (2-1) and Bates (3-2), as well as close victories against other top-four seeds Middlebury (2-0), Bowdoin (1-0) and Williams (3-2). The Jumbos did not trail in a game until October 17 at Bates, and then trailed twice at Williams on October 24, but both times came back for wins to keep their perfect season going.
The Jumbos are tied for the league-lead in goals with 46 in their 15 games, an average of 3.067 per game that is equaled by Wesleyan. Defensively, Tufts is third in NESCAC allowing 10 goals in 15 games (0.67 average).
Helm is a Player of the Year candidate with a league-best 16 goals in Tufts' 15 games, including 13 in 10 conference games. She's added four assists (two in conference) for 36 total points (28 NESCAC) to lead the league. Returning All-American
Claire Casey leads the defense and is a key offensive contributor on corners and penalty strokes who has six goals and two assists for 14 points. Senior goalie
Isabel Ginns, in her first year as a starter, is third in the conference with a .831 save percentage. Junior
Eleanor Luft, like Helm and Casey, was a 2025 All-Conference selection. She is the current NESCSAC Player of the Week after a four-point game at Williams.
Tufts is in the NESCAC Tournament for the 24th time overall, compiling a 29-20 mark in those games. Prior to winning the national championship last year, the Jumbos were upset in the conference semifinals by Wesleyan 2-0. The Jumbos are seeking their fourth NESCAC title to go with those won in 2024, 2016 and 2009.
A Look at The Mules (8-7, 3-7 NESCAC)
Colby's eight victories this season are its most since 2019. The Mules are coming off the 2-0 win against a Bates team that was the NESCAC champion and an NCAA Regional host last year. The Mules had a 3-2 overtime win against 15th-ranked Amherst on October 17, took a good Bowdoin team to two overtimes before losing 2-1 on October 18 and had the lead at fifth-seed Hamilton College before losing 2-1 on October 24.
The Mules can score, ranking fourth in NESCAC with 41 goals in 15 games for a 2.733 average. However, their defense ranks 10th in the conference giving up 28 goals in 15 games for a 1.87 average.
Senior Bridget Everett is eighth in NESCAC with nine goals, including two in the win over Amherst. Second-leading scorer Christina Sweeney, a second-team All-NESCAC pick a year ago, has scored in Colby's last two games against Bates and Hamilton and has seven on the season to go with four assists for 18 points. Sophomore goalie Ginna Jacoby's 105 saves this season are the most in NESCAC.
The Mules are in the NESCAC Tournament for the 10th time. Their lone win in conference championship play came in the 2004 quarterfinals, a 1-0 final over Bowdoin.
NESCAC Tournament Schedule
October 31 – Quarterfinals
No. 8 Colby at No. 1 Tufts – 12:00 PM
No. 7 Amherst at No. 2 Middlebury – 1:00 PM
No. 6 Wesleyan at No. 3 Bowdoin – 12:00 PM
No. 5 Hamilton at No. 4 Williams – 11:00 AM
November 7 – Semifinals
November 8 -- Finals
--JUMBOS—
