MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Wesleyan field hockey team gave No. 3 nationally-ranked Tufts all they could handle in a 2-1 home loss to the Jumbos on Wednesday night. Tufts (6-0, 4-0 NESCAC) scored both goals off corners in the first half to take a 2-0 lead, then held off the Cardinals (2-2, 1-1 NESCAC) after the hosts scored a fourth quarter goal.
Tufts took a lead with Wesleyan down a player due to a green card late in the first quarter. After earning their first corner of the night, Mia D'Angelo inserted right to Reegan McCluskey, who blasted a shot inside the right post with 3:55 remaining.
Into the second frame, the Jumbos were down a player due to a green card. Wesleyan drew consecutive corners, but were unable to generate a shot.
Less than four minutes later, Tufts capitalized on a corner themselves to make it 2-0. The insert from D'Angelo was passed along the right side of the arc until the ball was sent inside to Lainie Pearson. Her attempt at the cage was headed wide left of the post but Carolyn Thompson alertly reached up to knock it in with 2:54 left on the clock.
The third quarter was completely dominated by the respective defenses, as neither team managed a corner while the only shot attempted was Edie Schuyler of Tufts who saw her attempt blocked.
The Cardinals made it a game in the fourth as a goal off a corner came just over five minutes into the frame. The insert went directly to
Diana Schwarz '23 outside the top of the circle. She used her speed, dribbling right before sending a pass towards the middle where
Helen Deretchin '25 would sweep it in the cut the Tufts' lead in half.
Wesleyan would get another corner three minutes later and attempting a very similar play with Schwarz running with the ball up top, this time the ball was blocked and the Cardinals were whistled for a foul.
The remaining seven minutes of play featured no shots or corners from either side as Tufts held off the Wesleyan rally attempt.
The game was played equally throughout, with shots finishing 5-2 for Tufts and corners favoring Wesleyan 5-4.
Audrey Pace '26 and Tufts' Sam Gibby each made one save in goal for their respective sides.
Wesleyan has a big weekend ahead as the Cardinals head on the road for back-to-back NESCAC away games starting with No. 5 Trinity on Saturday before heading to Hamilton on Sunday.
