MEDFORD, MA (September 12, 2026) – Sophomore Eleanor Helm recorded three goals and an assist for a seven-point game to lead the #2 Tufts University field hockey team to a 5-0 victory over Colby College in NESCAC action Saturday afternoon at Ounjian Field.

Tufts continued its strong start to the new year, improving to 3-0 overall an 2-0 in the conference. Colby was playing its NESCAC opener, and dropped to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in NESCAC.

Helm joined junior teammate Hannah Murray with five goals each through three games as the Jumbos have tallied 14 goals overall in the first eight days of the 2026 season.

After a Colby foul, Helm took the ball near midfield and dashed into the circle where two Colby defenders were on her. She opened space for a shot and fired one inside the left post for a 1-0 Tufts lead with 7:15 on the first quarter clock.

Another goal by Helm was disallowed, but she would assist on Tufts' second score of the first quarter. Junior Ellie Wilkins fired a beautiful ball from midfield to Helm just outside the top of the circle. From the top-left edge, Helm back-handed a pass to junior Riley Schmidt at the right post and she poked it in for a 2-0 game with 3:25 remaining in the frame.

Colby sophomore goalie Ginna Jacoby kept the visitors in the game in the early going. She made seven saves in the first quarter and six in the second for 13 at the half.

Tufts did manage to up its margin to 3-0 early in the second. From just inside the 23-meter line on the far right side of the field, sophomore Ruby Pearson drilled a pass into the circle that Helm deflected off a Colby player. Senior Reagan Malo dove to put the loose ball into the cage.

Helm scored twice in the second half to record her hat trick. In the middle of the third, she took the ball from deep on the left side of the circle, moved into the middle and lifted a shot into the high right corner of the cage. Then early in the fourth, she batted in the rebound of a saved shot by Wilkins during a corner to make it 5-0.

Tufts senior goalie Isabel Ginns made a pair of saves in the fourth quarter to help maintain the Tufts shutout. A ball by Colby junior Ella Anania was nicely deflected in the middle of the circle by junior Christina Sweeney, but Ginns kicked it away. The rebound went right to Colby senior Bridget Everett who was alone against Ginns, but the Tufts senior again made a stop. First-year Cara Passios was also credited with a defensive save to help preserve the Jumbos' shutout.

Ginns finished with six saves while earning her second shutout of the week. Jacoby accumulated 18 saves in the Colby goal.

Shots finished 40-7 in favor of the Jumbos, who also had a 9-0 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.