CLINTON, NY (October 4, 2026) – Sophomore Eleanor Helm scored off a corner strike from senior Katarina Villa with no time remaining in the first overtime period to lift the defending NCAA champion and #1 ranked Tufts field hockey team to a 2-1 NESCAC victory at #11 Hamilton College on Sunday afternoon.

The overtime victory gives the Jumbos 10 straight wins to start the season and 15 wins in a row overall. It's the best start to a Tufts season since 2009, and the most consecutive wins for the Jumbos since 2008. They sit at 10-0 overall and 6-0 in NESCAC.

The loss ended a four-game winning streak for Hamilton, who fell to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

With the game in overtime tied at 1-1, Tufts earned a corner with three seconds remaining. A Hamilton foul during the corner gave the Jumbos another one with no time on the clock. Senior Lilly Ragusa inserted the ball out to the top where Villa's strike was deflected in by Helm from the middle of the circle for the game-winner.

It's Tufts' second overtime victory against a top-15 ranked conference opponent on the road, including a 2-1 final in two overtimes at Wesleyan University on September 23.

The Jumbos would take a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the game when they were awarded a penalty stroke during a first-quarter corner attempt. Senior Claire Casey converted her second penalty-stroke goal of the season, and her fifth goal overall to put the Jumbos in front.

Tufts mostly dominated today's game defensively, not allowing Hamilton to attempt a shot in the first half. The Continentals would break through in the third quarter though, scoring a late goal on a corner attempt. After a shot by junior Morgan Clarke was saved by Tufts senior Isabel Ginns, junior Shaw Houston scored during the scramble for the rebound in front of the goal to even the game at 1-1 with just four seconds remaining in the third.

Near the end of a scoreless fourth quarter, a Hamilton player was whistled for a yellow card which meant the hosts would play the first four-plus minutes of the overtime five-against-six. During this time, a strong shot by Helm was saved by Hamilton junior goalie Kelly Janssen and another shot by Tufts junior Eleanor Luft was blocked during a penalty corner.

Even after the Hamilton player returned, Tufts was able to maintain a more dangerous attack. That led to the two corners at the end of the OT, resulting in Helm's GWG. The goal by Helm was her NESCAC-best 11th of the year.

Tufts finished with significant advantages of 16-4 in shots and 8-4 on corners. Ginns made three saves to record the victory in goal, while Janssen had eight saves for Hamilton.

The Jumbos will attempt to tie the school record for consecutive victories when they host #3 Middlebury College next Saturday.