WATERVILLE, ME (September 30, 2023) -- The No. 5 Tufts University field hockey team scored twice in the second half to break a scoreless game at halftime, rolling past Colby College 2-0 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play Saturday afternoon.
The first quarter was played nearly entirely in the midfield, as neither team was able to take a shot or pick up a penalty corner in the frame. Things would pick up in the second period, as the Jumbos (7-1, 5-0 NESCAC) took all seven shots in the frame while adding six penalty corners. Tufts had three shots blocked in the last minute of the half, including one just before the final whistle to send the game to the break deadlocked at zero.
In the second half, Colby got its first corner of the game but the Jumbos were able to fend it off without a shot in the opening 30 seconds of the third stanza. Five minutes later, Tufts would benefit from a Mules' mistake as Colby put the ball in its own cage off a penalty corner to put the Jumbos on top 1-0. The Jumbos would fight off a push from the Mules in the fourth quarter, and Hannah Bicard tallied her sixth goal of the season unassisted at 56:33 of the game to secure the victory.
The Jumbos outshot their hosts 11-4 on the game, including putting the only two attempts on cage in the game. Tufts also collected 13 of the game's 17 penalty corners in the game as the Jumbos avenged a loss to Colby (2-6, 0-5 NESCAC) last year in Medford. Biccard finished the game with a team-high three shots Saturday, while
Gabby Sousa and Andrea Delgiudice also fired two shots.
Lydia Eastburn was not tested with a shot on goal, but still picked up her third shutout of the season in cage.
Tufts will play host to Wesleyan University this Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30 p.m. in more NESCAC play on Ounjian Field in Medford.
--JUMBOS--
