MEDFORD, MA (October 31, 2026) – The Tufts University field hockey team advanced to the NESCAC Tournament semifinals as the #1 seed with a 4-0 victory over #8 seed Colby College on Saturday afternoon at Ounjian Field.

The Jumbos will host the conference championship semifinals and finals next weekend (Nov. 7-8). Tufts will face #4 seed Williams College, which defeated #5 seed Hamilton College 2-0 today, in next Saturday's semifinals. Official game times have not yet been announced.

With the win over the Mules, Tufts improved to 16-0 overall and tied the school record for best start to a season, set by the 2008 Jumbos. Colby finished the year 8-8, its most wins in a season since 2019.

The visiting Mules started well, taking the first two shots of the game and earning the first penalty corner, on which a shot by first-year Thayer Demers was blocked.

Tufts scored first, however. With just under two minutes left in the first quarter, senior Reagan Malo received a pass from sophomore Eleanor Helm in the middle of the circle and set up her shot. Her unassisted blast gave the Jumbos a 1-0 lead.

The hosts added to their lead early in the second quarter. On a corner by senior Lilly Ragusa, senior Katarina Villa's shot was saved by Colby sophomore goalie Ginna Jacoby. The rebound went right to junior Ellie Wilkins, who banged it back into the cage to make it 2-0.

Colby earned another corner in the middle of the second quarter, but an attempt by sophomore Bridget Waters went wide. That was the end of the Mules' offense, as the Jumbos dominated the rest of the way.

Tufts, which scored in every quarter, took a 3-0 lead six minutes into the third. Sophomore Ruby Pearson sent a ball into the circle, and Villa pushed it up to Helm. The league's leading goal-scorer notched her 17th goal of the season, already tied for the fifth most in a single season in Tufts history.

A nifty run along the left side of the goal line and a shot into the far side of the cage by junior Eleanor Luft finished the scoring with six minutes left in regulation.

Senior Isabel Ginns did not have to make a save in recording her seventh shutout of the year and the team's eighth. Jacoby finished with 10 saves for Colby as the Jumbos outshot the Mules 24-4 (14-0 on goal) and held an 8-2 advantage in corners.

The Jumbos will host NESCAC's final weekend for the second straight year.