MEDFORD, Mass. – It was a storybook night in a storybook season for the Wesleyan field hockey team as the Cardinals landed one of the biggest wins in program history, a 2-1 overtime victory over the No. 5 ranked Tufts Jumbos on Wednesday night from Ounjian Field.
Helen Deretchin '25 was the OT hero as she stepped to the spot for a penalty stroke after a Jumbos defender denied what would have been a
Kenzie Kelly '25 game-winner with her right foot off a penalty corner in the sixth minute of the extra session. With the game on the line, Deretchin showed nerves of steel, coolly sliding the winner to her left, past a diving Lydia Eastburn in the cage, as the Cardinals erupted in celebration.
The win is a monumental one for the Cardinals, who beat a Top 5 ranked opponent for just the second time in program history and the first time ever on the road. Coincidentally, the only previous win over a Top 5 ranked team was also against Tufts, a 1-0 home win for Wesleyan in 2019. This also marks the first win for the No. 21 ranked Cardinals in Medford since 2000.
A heroic defensive display from the Cardinals in regulation sent the game into overtime as Wesleyan was outshot 15-2 and have no penalty corners compared to seven for the Jumbos. However, the script completely flipped in overtime as Wesleyan generated four shots and three penalty corners, the last of which saw Kelly draw the stroke which was put away by Deretchin.
Audrey Pace '26 was incredible throughout, finishing the contest with seven saves and just one goal allowed against the high-flying Jumbos. Tufts generated seven shots and three penalty corners in the first quarter alone, but Pace made three saves to keep the game scoreless. The best stop came on a Tufts corner when Pace stuck her stick out flat on the turf to stop a shot by the Jumbos' Gabby Sousa in the middle of the frame.
Despite Tufts controlling possession, it was Wesleyan who took a 1-0 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the half. A back-handed shot from the outside by Kelly got through to the front of the goal and Jumbo keeper Lydia Eastburn came out to block. The rebound kicked out to
Sarah Porter '27 who took a shot that bounced to the post.
Georgia Adams '26 was the first one to it and she tapped in her 10
th goal of the season.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Tufts would tie it barely two minutes into the third quarter. Claire Gavin took a long pass and beat a defender at the 23-meter line, then drove into the circle and blasted a shot past Pace to even the game at 1-1.
Pace made four saves in the third to keep the score tied before the teams played an even fourth quarter before the Cardinals flipped momentum and won it in OT.
Wesleyan continues a stretch of seven consecutive games played against ranked opponents on Saturday when the Cardinals welcome No. 13 Amherst to Smith Field for an 11 AM start.
