HARTFORD, CT (September 24, 2023) -- Sophomore
Elsi Aires scored her third of the season early, while first-year
Emily Nicholas tallied her first career goal as the Tufts University women's soccer team earned a hard-fought New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) 2-1 road win at Trinity College Sunday.
On a rainy, chilly day in Hartford, Tufts wasted no time getting the scoring going as Aires was able to score unassisted at the `4:43 mark of the contest to put the Jumbos up 1-0. On the play,
Jordan Cushner played a long ball over the entire Trinity team to a streaking Aires who slotted home for the goal.
Trinity would have some good chances after the goal as Tufts first-year goalkeeper
Gigi Edwards was forced to make four saves in the first 26 minutes.
In the 30th minute, Trinity had a good chance by an attempt by Sadie Rudolph rattled off the post and out. Minutes later, Tufts would double their lead with a beautiful goal on the break. First-year
Reese Birch picked up a loose ball and passed to fellow newcomer
Waverly Sumner at the top of the box. Sumner back-heeled the pass from Birch into the path of Nicholas, who blasted her shot home into the top left corner for the goal.
Late in the game the host Bantams would get on the board with under five minutes to play on a goal by Elena Lindonen to cut the lead in half for Tufts. That would end the scoring, as the Jumbos held on to record their first win over the Bantams since the 2019 season.
Trinity outshot the Jumbos 17-12 on the day, including a 12-6 edge in shots on goal. Edwards was stellar, as she made a career-high 11 saves in cage for the Jumbos. Aires posted three shots to lead the Jumbos.
Lindonen put four of her five shots on goal for Trinity, and Mariana Cournoyer made four saves for the Bantams.
The Jumbos (4-2-1, 2-2-1 NESCAC) will head to Colby College Saturday, September 30 at 12:30 p.m. in conference action in Waterville, ME.
--JUMBOS--
