AMHERST, MA (October 3, 2026) – Defending NCAA champion and #1-ranked Tufts field hockey is now off to the team's best in 16 years following today's 2-1 victory in a very competitive NESCAC game at #14 Amherst College.

The Jumbos improved to 9-0 overall for their best start since the 2010 season. Their overall winning streak stands at 14 games dating back to last year. Amherst (5-3, 2-3) had a two-game winning run stopped.

Less than a minute into today's game, Amherst senior Genevieve Caruso put a strong shot on goal that was saved by Tufts senior Isabel Ginns. That would stand as the only shot attempt of the opening quarter as the defenses controlled early play.

Tufts would establish some offensive momentum in the second quarter, and it would eventually lead to the game's first goal. Junior Riley Schmidt set up the goal with a sensational individual effort. Following an Amherst foul, Schmidt restarted at the top of the circle, stayed outside while maneuvering past the Mammoth defense and then curved into the goal area at the right post. She sent the ball to senior Reagan Malo open in front and Malo swatted it in with 4:12 to go until halftime.

With the Jumbo defense negating some Amherst pressure in the third quarter, Tufts would add another goal later in the frame. Earning a second corner within 30 seconds, the insert went from sophomore Eleanor Helm out to senior Katarina Villa at the top of the circle. She drove a shot into the cage for her first goal of the season with 4:24 remaining in the period.

Amherst would earn their first penalty corner opportunity of the game three minutes into the fourth quarter, with a shot by junior Emily Huehn blocked in front. However, Amherst would soon regain possession and scored a minute later to cut the lead in half. A pass across the circle from the right side by sophomore Emma Zhang tipped off a Tufts stick and went to first-year Cate LaFreniere who tipped it home 4:21 into the period.

Both teams had great scoring chances down the stretch, by Helm for Tufts and LaFreniere for Amherst. The score remained 2-1 though, as the Jumbos closed out their fifth straight victory and 12th in the last 13 games of the series against the Mammoths.

The Jumbos finished with advantages of 8-4 in shots and 5-1 in corners for the game. Senior Grace Puchalski recorded four saves in the Amherst cage, while Ginns was credited with two stops for Tufts.

The Jumbos will go for 10 wins in a row to start the season and 15 straight wins overall tomorrow at Hamilton College with a 1:00 start.