Artz Hero Again as No. 7 Field Hockey Edges No. 14 Wellesley, 1-0

MEDFORD – The No. 7 Tufts field hockey team got an early goal from senior Annie Artz and held on to that lead to top No. 14 Wellesley, 1-0, at Ounjian Field on Tuesday evening.  Artz has now scored in all four of the Jumbos games this year, including two game-winners.

With the win the Jumbos move to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in NESCAC play.  The Blue fall to 4-2 this year and 1-0 in NEWMAC play.

Artz put the Jumbos on the board just 6:56 into the first half when she deflected a shot off the stick of
junior Erin Sanders and was able to get the ball past Blue goalie Maggie Connelly.  The goal was Artz's fourth of the season.

The Jumbos would put a ton of offensive pressure on the Blue for the entire game, but especially at the end of the first half.  With about four minutes left in the half, senior co-captain Nicole Arata got off a shot that Connelly made a beautiful diving save on.  Just a short while later, senior co-captain Dominique Zarrella dribbled the ball past a Blue defender and unleashed a shot that Connelly saved.

About halfway through the second half, the Jumbos drew a penalty corner and were able to get off a shot but the Blue's Mitzi Wiggin made a defensive save to keep the Jumbos off the board.  Similarly, with just over five minutes left in the half, Artz got a shot on goal that the Blue's Courney Peterson was able to keep from going in the goal to keep the advantage in the Jumbos favor by just one.

The Blue finally found their stride with about two minutes left in the second half, drawing three penalty corners in the final two minutes of the game. With about a minute and a half left in the game Wellesley's Cecie Negron unleashed a shot that hit the left post and deflected in front of the net and the Jumbos were able to clear the ball.  Just fractions of an inch closer and Negron would have tied the game.

The Jumbos finished with the advantage in shots, 29-6 and penalty corners, 12-4 with three of those four coming in the final two minutes for the Blue.  Connelly played phenomenally in goal for the Blue making 14 saves on the day.  Sophomore Emily Polinski recorded the shutout in goal for the Jumbos making two saves in the win.

The Blue will be back in action on Saturday when they host Mount Holyoke for a 12 pm start.  The Jumbos travel to UMass-Dartmouth on Thursday for a 7 pm start time and then get ready to host No. 18 Mary Washington on Saturday.