MEDFORD, MA (September 24, 2024) – Senior
Claire Gavin scored twice in less than 30 seconds early in the game to help propel the seventh-ranked Tufts University field hockey team to a 3-1 win over #6 Babson College on Tuesday night at Ounjian Field.
Just two minutes into the game between these non-conference rivals, Tufts senior
Kayleigh McDonald knocked down an aerial pass by Babson at midfield. Her ball got through to junior
Hannah Biccard down the middle, who then broke into the circle and passed to an open Gavin on the left side. She slid a hard shot into the cage with 12:51 on the first-quarter clock.
Just moments later,
Andrea DelGiudice made the defensive play to start a Tufts rush. Again it was Biccard who made the pass to Gavin, who broke in on Babson keeper Bayla Furmanek. Gavin's first shot was saved, but the rebound was right there to send home and Tufts led 2-0 just two and a half minutes into the game.
Babson regrouped and would earn three consecutive corners five minutes into the first quarter. However, Tufts defended them well with junior
Gabby Sousa twice blocking shots and clearing them out of danger.
The visiting Beavers would gain an advantage in the second quarter and score just two minutes in. After Tufts could not connect on a pass in its own half, Babson's Caroline DiGiovanni collected a loose ball and sent it over to Camille Marsh outside the 23-meter line. She zipped the ball into the heart of the circle where senior Jessica Evans got free for an open shot and scored.
The Beavers would out-shoot Tufts 4-0 in the second quarter, but the game went to half with the Jumbos still leading 2-1.
In the third, Tufts would be awarded four corners and took nine shots. However, Furmanek made five saves in the period and it remained a 2-1 game.
Into the fourth, sophomore
Reagan Malo scored her first collegiate goal to give the Jumbos a two-goal margin. Biccard was the catalyst again, taking a restart at midfield and driving a long pass through three defenders to Malo in the circle. Malo turned and fired a shot that was blocked, but retrieving the ball near the end line on the right side she took another shot which deflected into the air and got past Furmanek with 7:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tufts finished the game with advantages of 16-8 on shots and 4-3 in corners. Jumbo
Lydia Eastburn needed to make just one save for the win, while Furmanek stopped seven shots at the Babson end.
The Jumbos travel to play NESCAC action at Wesleyan University on Saturday.
--JUMBOS--
