MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The No. 12 ranked Wesleyan women's soccer team aced its toughest test of the season so far, defeating No. 13 Tufts 3-1 in a rain soaked affair at Bello Field on Wednesday night. The Cardinals (6-0, 4-0 NESCAC) match their program record for longest win streak (six games) as well as their best start to a season (6-0 in 1993) while Wesleyan dealt Tufts (4-2, 2-1 NESCAC) their first league loss of the campaign.

Playing their third game in eight days, Wesleyan's offense continued to produce as the Cardinals netted at least three goals in this three-game span. For the season, Wesleyan has outscored opponents 20-3 through six games while the Cardinals' 4-0 start to NESCAC play is the best-ever in team history.
 
HIGHLIGHTS:

• In a lively first 15 minutes, both sides had a good deal of the ball in attacking areas but the first Wesleyan shot on-target was a beauty from Audrey Lavey '23 as Emily Ribatt '21, P'22 faked a cross and instead sent a pass on the left wing to Lavey after a Cardinal short corner. With time, Lavey took a touch and curled in a tall, looping shot that found the far upper corner and put the visitors out in front in the 17^th minute
• Tufts found an instant response as just over six minutes later, Liz Reed was on the receiving end of a lofted pass from the Jumbos' defensive end. That pass was misplayed by the Wesleyan back line, allowing to Reed to run in on net where she chipped over Cardinal goalkeeper Sarah Hammond '22 with her left foot to knot the score at 1-1
• Not content with the halftime deadlock, Wesleyan continued to play an attacking style and the Cardinals converted a chance in the 39^th minute as Andi Wiley '22 lobbed a through ball between the Jumbo center backs. Using her elite speed, Grace Devanny '23 beat the Tufts defenders to the ball took two touches before sliding a cleaver shot past the Jumbo goalkeeper who wasn't ready for the shot the slid inside the far post to give Wesleyan the 2-1 halftime lead
• As the second half started, so did the massive downpour as sheets of rain pelted down on Bello Field late Wednesday night. Tufts tried to capitalize on the wet conditions, testing Hammond early with a Margaux Ameer shot from distance in the 51^st minute but the Cardinal keeper was able to safely secure the curling shot on-target to keep the Cardinals out in front
• That initial Tufts pressure was quickly answered by a resounding Wesleyan attack as two shots on-goal was followed by a corner in a span of 10 minutes before a key insurance marker off the foot of Ally Stanton '24 in the 64^th minute loomed large. Devanny played a ball into the box that was sent over to Stanton who was left wide open just 10 yards from goal. The sophomore made no mistake on her shot, burying the goal into the top left corner, giving the Cardinals a two-goal advantage
• Just seven minutes later, Devanny came feet away from making it 4-1 as she won a header against a Tufts defender, sprinting in on goal from the left wing and hitting the post on her shot attempt close to the cage
• With the two-goal lead, Wesleyan was able to play keep away as Tufts managed just one shot attempt in the final 38+ minutes of play

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• With two more tonight, 17 of Wesleyan's 20 goals scored this season have come in the first half of games
• Devanny netted her third goal of 2021, all of which have gone down as game-winners
• Lavey's strike in the 17^th minute is her team-leading fourth goal of the season and eighth of her career
• Stanton scored for the second time in the last three matches
• Wiley now has four assists on the season to lead the team while Ribatt's assist is her second of 2021
• A significant win in many respects, Wesleyan's win tonight marked the first road win for the Cardinals over the Jumbos since 1996
• Hammond made three saves in goal as she earned her 18^th career victory, moving her career record to 18-8-3

UP NEXT:
After three games in eight days, Wesleyan takes a much-needed respite as the Cardinals are back in action next Wednesday for a 6 PM start at Mount Holyoke.