Tufts Narrowly Defeats Blue Field Hockey

MEDFORD - The eighth-ranked Tufts field hockey team ran its winning streak to nine games with a 1-0 win over Wellesley College in non-conference action Tuesday at Bello Field. Junior Chelsea Yogerst scored nine minutes into the game, and the Jumbo defense made it stand with their third shutout of 2012.

Tufts dominated possession, finishing with advantages of 19-3 in shots and 7-2 in corners. However, Wellesley junior Brit Mscisz made 11 saves, including seven in the second half.

The Jumbos, who have not lost since opening day on September 8, ran their record to 9-1 overall. The shutout was their second straight. Wellesley (8-5) has lost three of their last four.

Mscisz came out of the goal to stop a break-away by Yogerst. However, the Tufts player kept her cool, controlled the rebound, and deposited it into the goal for a 1-0 lead at 8:43 of the first half. The tally was her fourth of the season.

In the middle of the opening period, Mscisz saved a laser off the stick of Tufts junior Emily Cannon during a penalty corner chance. The Wellesley goalie had four saves in the first 35 minutes as Tufts out-shot the Blue 8-0.

The Jumbos applied lots of pressure on the Wellesley goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half. They earned four corners during that span, but could not capitalize. Wellesley was then two players down due to cards later in the half, but again held off the Jumbos.

Wellesley had its best scoring chance of the game after earning their first corner with 18:40 on the clock. Sophomore Allie Farber inserted to senior tri-captain Allison Robbins, but her blast was kicked away by Tufts keeper Brianna Keenan.

Around the 14-minute mark, a Tufts shot by sophomore Maggie Chapman was kept out of the goal on a defensive save by Wellesley sophomore Dana Marks. The Blue nearly tied the game as the clock wound down below five minutes. Keenan saved a shot by first-year Hannah Flesch, and a second chance by sophomore Lallie Lukens bounced just wide.

Keenan would finish with her third shutout, making three saves.

Wellesley field hockey returns to action on Saturday, hosting NEWMAC-rival, Mount Holyoke, at 12:00pm.