MEDFORD, MA (November 5, 2026) – The No. 3 ranked Tufts University women's soccer team is ready to travel to Williamstown, MA this weekend as the second-seed for championship weekend in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament. Williams is the top-seed and will be the hosts for the final two rounds, as they will take on fifth-seed Middlebury in the opening semifinal match-up at 10:45 AM on Saturday, while Tufts will face off against third-seed Hamilton at 1:30 PM. The Jumbos secured their spot in the conference semifinal round after defeating Wesleyan at home, 4-2.
Waverly Sumner and
Maren Jones both contributed to multiple goals in the victory as Sumner scored once and dished out an assist, while Jones tabbed two assists.
Game Details
Tournament Schedule
NESCAC Tournament Home Page
Saturday, November 7, 2026
No. 5 Middlebury (9-3-4, 5-3-2 NESCAC) vs. No. 1 Williams (12-2-1, 8-1-1 NESCAC) -- 10:45 AM
No. 3 Hamilton (11-2-3, 6-2-2 NESCAC) vs. No. 2 Tufts (12-0-3, 7-0-3 NESCAC) -- 1:30 PM
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Remaining Two Teams – 12:00 PM
Location: Williamstown, MA –
Cole Field
Weather: Partially Cloudy, Chance of Rain: 54 %, Wind: 10 MPH
Live Coverage: LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts vs. Tournament Field
The Jumbos held an unbeaten 2-0-1 record in games against the remaining three conference teams this season. In a road clash against Hamilton on October 4th, the Jumbos collected a 3-0 shutout victory over the Continentals, with Tufts' top-three scorers in Sumner, Jones, and
Emily Nicholas each finding the back of the net in the win. In the very next contest, Tufts earned a 2-0 result over Middlebury at home on Senior Day on October 10th, with Jones and Sumner delivering the two strikes. In a road matchup against No. 8 Williams on October 24th, the Jumbos played to a one score draw against the Ephs. Williams maintained an 18-10 advantage in the shot department and led 8-3 in corner kicks in the draw. In conference tournament action, the Jumbos last met with Hamilton in the 2024 NESCAC quarterfinals at home and took a closely contested 1-0 victory over the Continentals. Tufts most recently matched up against Middlebury in the NESCAC semifinal round of 2013 and fell to the Panthers 2-1 at home. Tufts has seen Williams most recently in conference tournament action, as the Jumbos earned their second NESCAC title in program history over the Ephs in 2025 with a 5-3 shootout victory.
A Look at The Jumbos
The Tufts women's soccer team comes in conference tournament weekend as the only unbeaten team with an extremely well-balanced group that can score in bunches. The Jumbos have put together an impressive 12-0-3 overall record, while going 7-0-3 in the conference standings. The strong defensive communication has led to Tufts conceding more than one goal in just two matches this season, resulting in an eye-opening 46-9 goal differential up to this point of the fall. The group has produced eight total shutouts, with standout goalkeeping from
Gigi Edwards being integral to the team's success.
Tufts is intimidating on the defensive side of the ball, as they allow just 0.60 opposing goals per game which ranks second in the conference. Edwards ranks second in the NESCAC with four shutouts and eight goals against in 12 game appearances, leading to a 0.67 goals against average. The senior has picked up 44 saves and sits in third in the NESCAC with a 0.846 save percentage. The Jumbos are limiting opponents to 9.4 shots per game compared to their 18.5, showing their dominance in the ability to create offensive chances. Sixty of the opposing shots have been on target, while the Jumbos have put 136 shots within the goal mount throughout the season. The Blue and Brown have shown their desire to not concede many unbothered shots towards goals, as they have held opponents to a 0.064 shooting percentage. The Jumbos have flashed to ability to control possession in the offensive end as they lead he corner kick category, 83-54.
The Jumbos are just as potent on the offensive end, as they lead the NESCAC in goals scored with 46. Tufts buried roughly 3.07 goals per game which also ranks atop the conference, with 278 total shot attempts. The group has put out 14 different goal scorers and has put together a solid 0.165 shooting percentage. Five of Tufts' goal scorers have tallied four or more goals this season. The Jumbos' offensive production is evenly split between the forwards and midfielders, as the top three forwards have combined for 19 goals, while the top three midfielders have accumulated 15 markers. The crew wears down the opposition with constant ball movement and consistent communication on the offensive end.
Senior midfielder
Maren Jones heads the group in scoring with 22 points in 15 starts on six goals and 10 assists. Jones has been the main playmaker for the Jumbos this season as her 10 assists leads the team and conference.
Waverly Sumner paces the Jumbos in goal scoring, as she has put home 10 scores along with two assists to notch 22 points. The senior forward has found ways to score with an always threatening and powerful long shot that has stunned goalkeepers all fall.
Emily Nicholas has provided extreme value at both ends of the field from the midfield as she sits in third on the Jumbos with 17 points on six goals and five assists in 15 starts. Sophomore forward
Jordyn Miller has come on strong in her second season as she has grabbed 12 points on four goals and four assists.
Hannah Batt,
Reese Birch, and
Gussie Robillard have also delivered crucial offensive contributions to the lineup. Batt has flipped between starting and coming of the bench, as she has netted five scores along with one assist for 11 total points in eight starts and 15 game appearances. Birch ranks third on the Jumbos in shot attempts with 39 and ranks third amongst midfielders in scoring with nine points on three goals and three assists.
The Jumbos use their communication and constant effort to create uncomfortable situations in opposing attacks and develop quick counters off of turnovers.
Rachel Arcella,
Maggie Rogers, Phoebe Marisck,
Alyssa Ruiz, and
Maile Lung make up the borderline impenetrable back line for the Jumbos. Marsick and Arcella are the defensive leaders for this group as they lead the entire squad in minutes played with 1,252 and 1,142, respectively. Lung has shown off her offensive abilities as well as she fired home two goals in her first two starts. Rogers has also contributed on the offensive end as she has posted four points on a score and two helpers.
All three draws for the Blue and Brown have come in conference play against Connecticut College, Trinity College (Conn.), and No. 8 Williams College. The first two draws came in back-to-back contests and Tufts responded to those with a big 2-0 road shutout over No. 4 MIT. The Jumbos followed up their one score draw with No. 8 Williams with a 5-0 rout over Bowdoin.
The Jumbos are seeking their fifth conference title in program history, while also looking for their first ever back-to-back NESCAC championship victory after defeating Williams in 2025.
A Look at Hamilton, Middlebury, and Williams
Hamilton enters the semifinal round of the conference tournament with an 11-2-3 overall record, while going 6-2-2 on the conference side. Both of the Continental's losses came in NESCAC action against No. 10 Williams and No. 3 Tufts. Hamilton comes into the weekend as the third-seed, after handily defeating sixth-seed Connecticut College at home in the quarterfinal round, 3-0. Sarah Flood recorded assists on all three goals in the victory for Hamilton.
Hamilton is still in search of it's first conference title and first conference championship appearance. The most recent NESCAC postseason appearance for the Continentals came last season when they fell to Middlebury on the road as the sixth-seed in the 2025 NESCAC quarterfinals, 2-0.
Hamilton puts out a strong offensive lineup that currently ranks third in the NESCAC in goals scored with 37. The Continentals bury around 2.31 goals per game, while limiting opponents to 0.88 scores per contest. Hamilton has a clear focus on getting shots off as they lead the conference healthily in shot attempts with 296 rips, with 146 of those being on target. Lila Sullivan leads the group in scoring with 23 points, which ranks second in the conference, on 11 goals and one assist. Haley Cramer and Aly Fernandes have been major offensive producers from the midfield, as they both have registered five goals apiece. Cramer has nabbed 17 points with her five scores along with her team-leading seven assists, while Fernandes has 10 points with her five goals and no assists. Flood and Kate Giglio have been key playmakers for the Continentals as they have combined for 11 assists. Isabel Harvey and Diana Baffor round out the offensive firepower for Hamilton, as Harvey has accrued seven points on three goals and as assist, while Baffor has captured six points on one goal and four helpers.
No. 8 Williams enters the final two rounds of the NESCAC Championship as the hosts with the top-seed and a 12-2-1 overall record. Williams previously hosted the final two rounds of the conference tournament in five consecutive seasons from 2014-2018. The Ephs made a championship appearance in 2025, but lost to Tufts on the road in PKs, 5-3.
Williams' two losses came in and out of conference action and were both one score results. The Ephs fell to Colby and Skidmore on the road by 1-0 scores in each game.
Williams uses their shut down defense to hold off opposing offensive attacks and develop scoring chances on the other end. The Ephs lead the conference in total goals against with just five in 15 games. The Ephs hold a 35-5 scoring differential and bury 2.33 goals per game, while conceding just 0.33 scores per match. Williams leads the conference in corner kick chances with 105, displaying their ability to control possession in the offensive end.
Maya Lloyd is the scoring leader for this offensive group with 16 points on six goals and four assists in 13 starts. Lloyd also leads the team with three game-winning goals. Bria Abbiati follows just behind Lloyd with 15 points on five goals and five assists in 15 game appearances. Abbiati leads Williams in shot attempts with 43 and shots on goal with 25. Alli Aleman has been a steady first year forward for the Ephs this season as she has collected nine points on three goals and three assists. Lucy Carrel has had an eye for goal from the midfield all fall as she has grabbed eight total points on four tallies. Olivia Bevilacqua and Chloe Lee have been earned seven points this season, Bevilacqua has sent home two score along with three assists, while Lee has scored three times and dished out one assist. Elizabeth Stophel and Greta Pew rounded out most the offensive force for Williams as key playmakers as they have combined for nine assists.
No. 23 Middlebury enters NESCAC Championship weekend as the fifth-seed with a 9-3-4 overall record, while going 5-3-2 in conference action. All three of the Panthers losses came in conference play against Wesleyan in the season-opener, No. 3 Tufts on the road, and No. 8 Williams in the regular season finale.
Middlebury claimed their most recent conference title in 2021 as the fourth-seed after defeating second-seed Wesleyan in PKs, 3-2. The Panthers last NESCAC postseason appearance came in 2025 as they advanced to the semifinal round, but lost to No. 10 Williams by a score of 2-1.
Middlebury is a well-balanced crew that converts on scoring chances and capitalizes on opponents mistakes. The Panthers currently hold a 29-12 scoring differential with a 1.81 scoring average and 1.06 average scoring margin. Middlebury has fired off 250 shot attempt with 124 of those being on goal, resulting in 7.75 shots on goal per game. The Panthers are also a well disciplined bunch as they have been assessed six total cards in 16 games this season.
Offensively, Taya McClennen leads Middlebury in scoring with 10 points in four goals and two assists. The junior midfielder ranks second on the team in shot attempts with 38 and has converted on one of her two penalty kick chances. Marian Rode and Chloe Swindle both sit in second amongst the Panthers in scoring with nine points each. Rode is tied with McClennen in goals with four and has given out one assist. Swindle has put in three scores along with three assists in 16 starts. First year forward Noelle Mallory has been a bright spot in the forward lineup as she has posted seven points on two goals and three assists. Gigi Day has been a solid senior midfielder for the Panthers with six points on two scores and two assists. Sarah Hall, Fiona Linnau, and Kacy Walker have provided goal scoring from all three positions for Middlebury as they have combined for seven goals.
--JUMBOS--
