MEDFORD, MA (November 11, 2026) – The No. 3 ranked Tufts University women's soccer team tabbed six student-athletes on the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference teams for their contributions to an exceptional season so far.
Seniors
Reese Birch,
Emily Nicholas, and
Waverly Sumner along with juniors
Phoebe Marsick and
Maren Jones were all honored to the All-NESCAC First Team, while senior goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards landed a spot on the All-NESCAC Second Team.
Birch commands the midfield well and has consistently set up teammates for potential scoring chances all fall. The Kansas native is tied for fifth on the Jumbos in scoring with 11 points on four goals and three assists, while also ranking third in shot attempts with 42 and shots on goal with 17. This is the second straight All-NESCAC First Team honor for the senior.
Nicholas has been integral on both sides of the ball for Tufts all season from the midfield, as she ranks third on the Jumbos in scoring with 17 points on six goals and five assists. The senior also leads all Tufts' midfielders and is in fourth on the squad in minutes played with 1,243 in 17 game appearances. This is the second All-Conference recognition for Nicholas, as she was named to the Second Team in 2024.
Sumner has fielded an incredible shot that has caught opposing goalkeepers off-guard all fall. The senior forward leads the Jumbos in goal scoring with 10 tallies and has accrued 22 points, which ranks second on Tufts. The Dover native has been efficient with her strike over the course of the season, as she has maintained a .233 shot percentage on 43 shot attempts. This is the first-career All-Conference selection for Sumner.
Jones has been an offensive weapon during the entirety of the 2026 season up to this point, as she lead the Jumbos and ranks second in the NESCAC in total points with 25. The junior has shown off her elite playmaking skills as she paces the conference in assists with 11. The threatening midfielder has also found the back of the net at a solid rate with seven goals, which has her in second on Tufts. With the First Team selection, Jones captures her first career All-NESCAC award.
Marsick has been a major component of Tufts disciplined back line, as she leads all Jumbo players in minutes played by over 100 as she currently sits with 1,432 in 16 match appearances. The Connecticut native has made major impacts with her defensive IQ and ability to dismantle opposing offensive strategies. The junior dished out her one assist in the NESCAC quarterfinal victory over Wesleyan.
Edwards earns her first-career All-Conference honor after a stellar season between the posts. In 14 starts, the senior stopped 51 total shots on 125 shots faced to earn a 0.823 save percentage, which ranks third in the NESCAC. Edwards is second in the conference in goals against average with a 0.79 mark and the California native has accumulated four solo shutouts and sits with an 11-1-2 overall record.
Maria Utz from Wesleyan was tabbed as NESCAC Player of the Year, while Kianna Porter from Williams grabbed NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Connecticut's Danic Zicha collected NESCAC Rookie of the Year, while Hamilton and Williams were named as Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year.
Tufts will be on the road in Poughkeepsie, NY at Vassar College for the opening rounds of the DIII NCAA Tournament and will take on Husson University on Saturday at 11 AM.
--JUMBOS--
