MEDFORD, MA (November 12, 2026) – For the second time in three seasons, the Tufts University women's soccer team will be on the road for the opening round of the Division III NCAA Tournament as the will visit Vassar for the upcoming weekend. Joining the Jumbos in Poughkeepsie, NY as visitors are the Hawks from the University of Hartford and the Eagles from Husson University. Tufts will take on Husson at 11 AM on Saturday, while Vassar will face off against Hartford at 1:30 PM.
Game Details
NCAA DIII Tournament Bracket
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Tufts (13-1-3) vs. Husson (10-5-2) – 11 AM
Vassar (11-1-5) vs Hartford (13-3-1) – 1:30 PM
Sunday, November 15, 2026
Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 1 PM
Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Weather: Cloudy 50s Chance of Rain: 4% Wind: NW 10-15 MPH
Live Coverage: LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts Against the Field
The Jumbos has met with Husson just once in program history back in 2023 and played to a 2-2 draw.
Emily Nicholas buried both goals for Tufts in the tie. Tufts has not met with either Vassar or Hartford in the past and will have their first ever matchup against either team if they were to advance to the second round on Sunday.
A Look at the Jumbos (13-1-3)
Tufts enters the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament after taking their first loss of the season in a 2-1 defeat to No. 8 Williams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship last weekend. The Jumbos currently hold a 13-1-3 overall record through a tough 2026 schedule and have been one of the strongest team in the country on both sides of the ball. The blue and Brown have been successful despite their environment as they have maintained a 6-1-1 record as the away team, while going 5-0-2 at home. The Jumbos took on four top-10 ranked opponents in No. 5 Messiah, No. 6 Wesleyan, No. 4 MIT, and No. 8 Williams during the regular season and put together an unbeaten 3-0-1 record against them.
In conference tournament action, the Jumbos cruised through the quarterfinal round at home against Wesleyan by a 4-2 score.
Jordyn Miller,
Waverly Sumner,
Hannah Batt, and
Gussie Robillard all found the back of the net in the win. In a semifinal round matchup against No. 18 Hamilton, the Jumbos earned a 2-1 victory in regulation, with
Claire Brady scoring the eventual game-winner in the 42nd minute.
Reese Birch netted the lone goal for the Jumbos in their conference championship loss to No. 8 Williams.
The Jumbos have been elite on both sides of the ball as their stifling defense has resulted in great offensive production. Tufts enters the weekend with an eye-opening 49-12 goal differential and a 2.88 goals per game average. The Jumbos have also nearly doubled their opponents shot attempts as they sit with 310 and have allowed just 162, resulting in 18.2 shots per game for Tufts compared to 9.5 per game from the opposition.
Waverly Sumner,
Hannah Batt,
Jordyn Miller, and
Gussie Robillard have provided Tufts with an outstanding forward rotation that has combined for 22 goals and 11 assists so far in 2026. Sumner is second on the Jumbos in scoring with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists, her 10 tallies leads Tufts and ranks third in the NESCAC. Batt has flipped back-and-forth between starting and being the first striker off the bench as she has made 10 starts and has collected 11 points on five goals and an assist. Miller has had a consistent sophomore season as she has buried four goals and dished out four assists to register 12 total points which ranks fourth on the squad. Robillard has been efficient with her time on the field and has come on strong towards the latter half of the season, as she currently sits with 10 points on three goals and four assists in 17 match appearances. Sumner recently nabbed an All-NESCAC First Team selections for her standout goal-scoring efforts this season.
Tufts offensive success goes well beyond the forward position as
Maren Jones,
Emily Nicholas, and
Reese Birch have combined 53 total points on 18 goals and 19 assists, showing their offensive force from the midfield. Jones paces the entire squad in scoring with 25 points on seven goals and 11 helpers. Jones' 11 assists leads the conference, and she ranks second in the NESCAC with her 25 points. Nicholas is a skilled workhorse midfielder that leads all Tufts midfielders in minutes played with 1,243 and has a heavily positive impact on defense and offense for the Jumbos. The senior ranks third within the group in scoring with 17 points on six goals and five assists. All three midfielders tabbed spots on the All-Conference First Team.
Rounding out this incredibly balanced lineup is the shutdown defensive unit that is made up of
Phoebe Marsick,
Rachel Arcella,
Alyssa Ruiz,
Maile Lung, and
Maggie Rogers. This group has been excellent, holding opponents to 0.71 scores per game with a 0.074 shooting percentage and allowing under 10 shot attempts per game. Marsick leads all Jumbos in minutes played with 1,432. The junior also delivered an assist in the NESCAC quarterfinal victory over Wesleyan. Marsick received an All-NESCAC First Team honor for her significant contributions on the back line. Arcella follows just behind Marsick with 1,322 minutes played. The tall defender has also scored once and notched one assist so far in 2026. Ruiz has appeared in all 17 matches, has made nine starts, and has seen 999 minutes of field action so far this season for Tufts. Lung has been stellar on the back line in her debut season as she has sent home two goals and has emerged as a reliable starter with 12 starts in her first year. Rogers rounds out this strong defensive group with a goal and three assists in 13 starts and 955 minutes played.
In goal,
Gigi Edwards has stood tall all fall between the posts for the Jumbos as she enters the opening round with a 10-1-2 overall record. The senior has collected 51 saves this season and has earned four solo shutouts. In 14 starts, the California native has conceded just 11 goals, which has resulted in a 0.79 goals against average. Edwards was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team for her steady season in net.
Greta Steege has made three starts in 2026 and has allowed just one goal, while stuffing five shots to register an unbeaten 2-0-1 overall record.
A Look at the Field
Husson enters the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament after earning the 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Title with a 2-0 victory over Lesley University last Saturday. The Eagles have won their last three matches dating back to the regular season final victory over Maine Maritime Academy. All five losses for the Husson this season have come in non-conference play besides the 0-2 loss to Lesleyan on September 19. Husson has been strong on both ends as they hold a 43-13 goal differential coming into Saturday.
On the offensive side, the Eagles have been solid as they lead score 2.53 goals per game compared to their opponents 0.76 goals per games clip. Senior forward Olivia Charles leads the group in scoring with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists, her 10 goals also paces Husson. Thea Gerfen has shown off her vision all season as she heads the Eagles with nine assists so far in 2026. The sophomore defender has also found the back of the net three times which leads all Husson defenders. Sophomore forward Jaquie Pangburn has had a clear goal-scoring focus this season as she ranks second on roster with seven markers. Paige Dunn, Ella Hosford, and Hailey Tarbox round out the majority of the offensive production for Husson with 11 points apiece and 12 goals combined.
In goal, Gabriella Smith has been the dedicated starter for the Eagles all season with 16 starts and a 9-4-2 overall record. In her 16 match appearances, Smith has allowed just 13 goals against, which has led to a strong 0.87 goals against average. The sophomore has secured six solo shutouts this fall and has put together 51 total saves to earn a 0.759 save percentage.
Vassar comes into the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament after winning the 2026 Liberty League Championship over William Smith College by a score of 2-1 in regulation on Sunday. The Brewers have gone unbeaten in their last five contests since losing to William Smith, 2-1, on October 17. Vassar cemented their spot in the conference championship after besting Union College in a penalty shootout in the semifinal round.
The Brewers have been strong on the offensive end, but it is their defense that has propelled them to success this season. Vassar has allowed just six goals all season compared to their 44, resulting in a remarkable 0.35 goals against average. Vassar is also out shooting their opponents 329 to 92, proving their display of dominance on both ends. Junior forward Alice Crowley highlights this group in scoring with 24 points on 10 goals and four assists in 17 match appearances. Crowley ranks second on the team in shots on goal with 32. Senior forward Gianna Panarelli follows just behind Crowley with 22 points on eight goals and six assists. Panarelli leads the lineup in shots on goal with 35. Sophomore midfielder Elena Valle ranks third on Vassar in scoring with 17 points on six goals and five assists. Caroline Sheehan caps off the double-digit point totals for the Brewers with 10 points on three goals and four assists in just one start and 15 game appearances.
Between the posts, Laura Shea has started every single game for the Brewers and comes into the weekend with an 11-1-5 overall record. Shea has been a major factor in this season's success for Vassar as she has allowed just five goals and has earned eight solo shutouts in 2026. The Juniors is conceding just 0.32 goals against per game and currently sits a 0.861 save percentage.
Hartford visits Poughkeepsie, NY after claiming the 2026 Conference of New England (CNE) trophy over Suffolk University last Saturday by a 3-0 result. The Hawks are winners of their last three match up's, including the two conference tournament victories. Hartford earned their way into the CNE Championship game after defeating Gordon College at home 3-0 in the conference semifinals last Tuesday. Two of Hartford's three losses came in conference play against Roger-Williams University and Johnson & Wales University, while the other came against Trinity (Conn.) in non-conference action.
Similar to the other teams in the field, Hartford fields an incredibly balanced lineup that has outscored opponents 44-13 so far this fall. The Hawks score at a solid rate as they net roughly 2.59 scores per contest while limiting opponents to 0.76 goals per game. First year forward Taylor Freimuth highlights the group in scoring with 25 points on 12 goals and one assist, her 12 tallies is also a team-leading mark. Senior forward Kathleen Brush is second on the Hawks with 19 total points on eight goals and three assists. Brush paces Hartford in shot attempts with 50 and shots on goal with 33. Sophomore midfielder Anastasia Nerney heads the midfield crew with 15 points on four goals and seven assists; her seven assists leads the team. Midfielders Olivia Fuimara and Reese Sadler have both collected 11 points so far this season, as they both have tabbed four goals and three assists. Junior midfielder finishes off most of the offensive framework for Hartford as she has grabbed 10 points this season on two goals and six assists.
In net, Madelyn Nunnemacher has been the main starter for Hartford all season and the backbone to their success. In 16 starts, the first year has allowed just 11 goals, which has resulted in a 0.70 goals against per game mark. The Sutton native has earned herself seven solo shutouts and has stopped 65 shots within the goal mount. Nunnemacher enters the weekend with a 13-3-0 overall record.
--JUMBOS--
