ROCHESTER, NY (September 26, 2026) – Senior co-captain Claire Casey scored three times, including twice on penalty strokes, as the #3-ranked Tufts University field hockey team earned a 4-1 victory at the University of Rochester on Saturday morning.

The hat trick is the first of Casey's career and was joined by a goal from senior Reagan Malo as the Jumbos improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2022. Rochester, who had allowed only three goals all season entering the game, dropped to 6-2 overall.

Both teams were awarded penalty strokes in the first quarter today. Tufts' came at 12:36 on the clock after junior Hannah Murray was tripped in the circle during a corner attempt. Casey took the Jumbos' first stroke of the season and converted for a 1-0 lead. Rochester also received a stroke after a foul in the circle with five minutes to play in the first, but the shot by junior Hannah Mehta hit the left post.

However, Rochester would tie the game early in the second quarter. On a restart by Mehta in Jumbo territory, she passed up to junior Erin Foley who curled into the circle. Her centering pass bounced off the stick of senior Grayson Honig, but Honig quickly retrieved the ball and scored to make it 1-1.

The Jumbos earned nine corners in the first half and were able to capitalize on the last one to take a lead into intermission. Senior Lilly Rasua inserted out to Casey just left of the top of the circle. Her shot skidded through a busy goal area and in with 1:36 to go until halftime to put Tufts up 2-1.

The visitors would then take control of the game in the third quarter. Tufts took a 3-1 advantage when during pressure on goal Ragusa controlled a loose ball to the left of the cage and centered it to sophomore Eleanor Helm. Her shot was pushed in by Malo at the goal line with 3:40 remaining in the third. Casey then added her second penalty stroke goal with 50 seconds on the clock and the Jumbo margin was three (4-1).

Rochester earned four corner opportunities in the fourth quarter, but the Jumbos were able to defend each one successfully to close out the victory.

Shots finished in favor of the Jumbos at 16-5, as did corners at 11-8. First-year Riley Leeser stopped six shots for Rochester, while senior Isabel Ginns had one save in the Tufts victory.