“We don’t chase records, we create conditions where records become inevitable.”
Junior midfielder Maren Jones said that this philosophy from Josh Kerr, the one mile world record-holding runner, has guided Tufts women’s soccer throughout the season.
On a brisk, yet sunny Homecoming weekend, the No. 2-ranked Tufts Jumbos displayed control and coherence, yet tied 1–1 against the Trinity Bantams. Jones attempted two shots on goal, with one becoming the sole Tufts goal of the game..
Tufts set an active pace of game, showing their ball control in the opening moments. Still, Trinity’s defense kept up, matching Tufts’ speed and asserting themselves against Tufts’ attacks.
The Jumbos’ first chance at scoring came at eight minutes on a corner that produced beautiful crosses and control, but was ultimately recovered by the Bantams’ senior goalkeeper Zoe Tamborello.
A shot in the 13th minute by Jones missed just outside the net, earning the Jumbos a corner that was quickly cleared to the Bantams’ defense.
Tufts kept the energy up and brought the ball back through a claustrophobic Bantam attack, allowing junior forward Audrey Crommett to put up a shot from afar. The action continued with a corner near the goal, with senior midfielder Reese Birch shooting again at a narrow angle.
The Jumbos recovered the ball and set it up for an attempt on goal just above the right corner by senior forward Waverly Sumner, who displayed excellent control and positioning throughout the first half.
Though the Jumbos kept their momentum, their next chance came at the 24-minute mark. They utilized the full width of the field, stringing together outside crosses up to the left of the goal, reaping a corner when a Trinity defender knocked the ball out.
Jones’s header towards the center of the goal was the Jumbos’ closest opportunity yet, but the Bantams goalkeeper Tamborello headed it down.
Senior defender Maggie Rogers also made her presence known in the first half, controlling the back line and making passes that helped the Jumbos keep possession.
They recorded another two consecutive corners at the 35-minute mark taken by Crommett. They came close on the first to break it open, but ultimately, could not get through. Sophomore midfielder Claire Brady shot to the left of the goal, furthering the Jumbos’ ongoing difficulty to capitalize on their possession and chances to break the deadlock.
Tufts’ substitutions reflected their pace of game and possession, with all three forwards subbing out.
The Bantams struggled with ball placement, frequently passing right into the Jumbos’ midfield or crowding in the same areas. They intercepted a wide cross by first-year defender Maile Lung, sending a long shot straight to junior goalkeeper Greta Steege.
Tufts did not take this lightly, retaliating with a corner a minute later. The corner crossed back in on a wide pass, but set it up for Trinity to cross wide and deliver another shot, this time high and wide on the left.
Brady came back with just 45 seconds left in the half, sending a one-touch shot wide of the goal.
Despite taking 10 more shots than Trinity and having strong technical skills and ball control for much of the first half, Tufts struggled with precision and went into halftime tied.
Trinity came out swinging again in the second half, with Steege narrowly blocking a shot in the center of the goal.
The Jumbos gained momentum again, stringing wide passes and fakes to make it away from the Bantams. Despite another corner, the Bantams sent it downfield, earning a corner of their own but failing to convert to a goal with another wide shot.
A foul on Lung at the 61-minute mark allowed the Bantams a penalty kick taken by junior midfielder Kyra Charette, who placed a successful shot into the right corner of the goal making the score 1–0, Trinity. Charette gave Trinity its first NESCAC goal of the season resulting in the first time Tufts has trailed all season.
Tufts played shakily after the goal, with more defensive possession and a struggle to create chances to strike back. They started to rally again around 78 minutes; a short pass from Crommett gave Jones the chance to send a picturesque high shot into the center back of the net, tying the game at one goal.
The last ten minutes reinvigorated Trinity, who allowed Tufts only one more shot. The second half ended with Trinity taking the ball out and securing the draw and relegating Tufts to third place in the NESCAC.
The Jumbos displayed promising ball control, communication and possession, but unexpectedly recorded two draws against unranked teams this weekend — including a 2–2 draw to Connecticut College the prior day — a possible blow to their rankings.
Tufts will next face No. 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday afternoon.
