Box Score
MEDFORD – The #10 Tufts field hockey team and Williams played just over 55 minutes of scoreless field hockey on Saturday afternoon before the two teams combined to score three goals in 11 minutes. Fortunately for the Jumbos, two of those goals were theirs, and they were able to edge the Ephs, 2-1, in NESCAC action on Bello field.
Tufts had a great scoring opportunity just over 14 minutes into play when a penalty corner resulted in a shot by junior Rachel Terveer, but a diving defensive save by senior Annie Rojas helped keep the game scoreless.
Williams put some pressure on Tufts at the end of the first half with three penalty corners, resulting in five shots. But, strong defense by the Jumbos and two saves from senior co-captain and goalie Bri Keenan, sent the game into the half with goose eggs on the scoreboard.
Tufts once again had a great opportunity to score about six minutes into the second half, but a shot by sophomore Annie Artz hit the crossbar and went out of play to keep the game scoreless.
The Ephs would be the team that scored first as first-year Julianna Kostas found herself right in front of the net, received a pass from senior Caitlin Conlon, and was able to shoot the ball into the back right corner of the goal past a diving Keenan.
The Jumbos answered with a goal of their own to even the score just three minutes later. Junior Dakota Sikes-Keilp unleashed a shot on a penalty corner that Williams sophomore goalie Margaret Draper was able to save, but the ball bounced off her pads and to the stick of sophomore Annie Artz who scored her seventh goal of the season to even the score at one.
Tufts would gain the lead with just under four minutes remaining in the game. The Jumbos drew a penalty corner, which junior Alexandra Jamison inserted. She pushed the ball right to Sikes Keilp who was at the top of the shooting circle. Sikes Keilp shot the ball and it flew right past the right arm of Draper to put the Jumbos ahead, 2-1.
On the day the Jumbos had the advantage in shots, 15-10, and penalty corners, 10-6. Keenan finished with five saves for the Jumbos, while her Eph counterpart, Draper, also finished with five saves.
Williams moves to 7-6 overall and 4-4 in NESCAC play. The Ephs will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Bates for an 11:00 am contest. The Jumbos are now 10-3 this season with a 5-3 conference mark. They play again next Saturday when they host Hamilton for a 12:00 pm game.
Today was the team's annual "Play for the Cure" game. The Jumbos wore special warm-up t-shirts, used a couple of pink balls and had pink shoelaces to promote awareness and raise money for breast cancer research.
