Women's Soccer Drops 4-0 Decision to Tufts

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Sophomore forward Elsi Aires (Westborough, Mass.) tallied a goal and two assists to lead the visiting Tufts University women's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout victory over Bridgewater State University on Tuesday night at Mazzaferro Field.

The Jumbos improve to 6-2-3 on the season while the Bears fall to 6-5. Tufts was ranked fifth in the most recent United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Region One Poll.

The Jumbos got on the board just a minute into the contest as senior midfielder Thalia Greenberg (Mill Valley, Calif.) potted her fifth goal of the season. Greenberg one-timed a crossing pass sent into the six by Aires.

Junior defender Caroline O'Neill (Pleasantville, N.Y.) nearly found the back of the net in the 20th minute as she struck the crossbar from 30 yards out off a restart.

Freshman forward Waverly Sumner (Dover, Mass.) notched her first collegiate goal in the 37th minute to extend the Tufts' lead to 2-0. A long pass down the left side by sophomore forward Anna Griffin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) eluded a BSU defender who had lost her footing. Sumner ran the ball down inside the 18 cut back to the right and beat the keeper with a shot inside the left post.

Sophomore midfielder Caroline Kelly (Southborough, Mass.) tucked shot inside the far post from the left side of the 18 to make it a 3-0 game in the 49th minute. Aires and senior forward Erin Duncan (Shrewsbury, Mass.) picked up assists on the strike.

Aires scored her seventh goal of the season in the 62nd minute. After collecting a throw-in from freshman defender Maggie Rogers (Greenville. S.C.) on the right side, Nicola Sommers (Branford, Conn.) sent a cross towards the back post and Aires headed it home to cap off the 4-0 victory.

The Bears' best scoring chance came in the 79th minute off a restart from midfield. Senior defender Sydney Dewhurst (East Bridgewater, Mass.) drove the ball towards the net that the Tufts' netminder was forced to make a play on. The Bears were unable to get to the rebound, however, as a Jumbo defender cleared the loose ball out of the six.

Tufts held a decided 32-2 shot advantage for the game as well as 5-0 edge in corner kick attempts.

Freshman goaltender Gigi Edwards (Menlo Park, Calif.) and junior netminder Natalie Rinker (Kirland, Wash.) combined on the shutout in for the Jumbos. Edwards did not face a shot on frame while Ranker came on with 14:45 remaining and was credit with one save.

Sophomore keeper Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) was very busy between the pipes for Bridgewater State as she made a season-high 15 saves.

Up Next: Both teams are back in action on Saturday at noon. The Bears travel to Massachusetts Maritime Academy to take on the Buccaneers in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup, the Jumbos host New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival Bates College.