MEDFORD, MA (November 7, 2026) – Continuing a remarkable undefeated season so far, the Tufts University field hockey team tied the game late in regulation and won it in overtime for a 3-2 victory over Williams College in the NESCAC Tournament Semifinals on a rainy Saturday at Ounjian Field. The #1-ranked Jumbos (17-0) advanced to the championship game against Middlebury College on Sunday at noon.

Today, senior Katarina Villa scored with 1:11 remaining in regulation, then sophomore Eleanor Helm tallied her 18th goal of the year with 2:53 left in the first overtime as Tufts stunned a Williams College team (11-6) that was equal to the task. With the win, Tufts broke the school record for most consecutive victories to start a season, surpassing the 2008 squad's 16-0 start.

The Ephs, seeded fourth in NESCAC's, scored the game's first goal in the sixth minute of action. A shot from the top of the circle by senior Claire Colvin was blocked by a Jumbo defender, but it rolled to sophomore Katie Sigrist in the middle. She sliced a backhander into the cage and the Ephs led 1-0.

Williams did an outstanding job containing the league-leading Tufts offense in the first half. The Jumbos did not put a shot on goal during the first 30 minutes and the game went to half with the Ephs up 1-0.

The Jumbos' first shot on goal came when they were awarded a penalty stroke just one minute into the second half. Senior Claire Casey delivered to tie the score at 1-1. Casey is now four for four on penalty strokes this season and eight for eight in her career.

Barely five minutes later, Williams earned a penalty stroke of its own. However, Tufts senior goalie Isabel Ginns moved to the right quickly to save the attempt by first-year Hannah Herlihy.

The Ephs would regain the lead though on a corner with 2:31 remaining in the third. The insert by Colvin from the left side went directly to Herlihy at the top of the circle and she drove her shot into the cage to put Williams ahead 2-1.

Tufts had its best quarter in the fourth, earning five corners and eight shots (four on goal). Williams was not backing down either, with four corners and five shots in the fourth.

However, it was the Jumbos who would take advantage late in the period. Casey got the ball up to Villa and she benefited from a Williams foul, charging into the circle for a shot that was blocked. She split a pair of Williams defenders to control the ball in the middle and put her shot through traffic into the goal to tie the game at 2-2.

Tufts carried the momentum into overtime, attempting six shots in the frame to none for Williams. As time wound down under three minutes, sophomore Kate Wahler got a loose ball in the Tufts end and pushed it up to senior Reagan Malo just past midfield. Helm got open in the left side of the circle, took a pass from Malo, made a move around a Williams defender and took a shot that was saved by Eph junior goalie Ellie Smith. The rebound came out to her and she had an open cage in which to deposit the game-winner.

The Jumbos improved to 4-0 in overtime this season.

Tufts owned a 21-18 advantage in shots (10-4 on goal) and Williams had a 7-6 lead for corners. Smith made seven saves for the Ephs while Ginns stopped two for Tufts.

The Jumbos will be playing for their fourth NESCAC title on Sunday against a Middlebury squad that defeated Bowdoin College 2-0 in today's other semifinal at Ounjian Field. Tufts and the Panthers will be meeting in the conference final for the fifth time.