No. 11 Field Hockey Tops No. 16 Tufts, 1-0, on Late Goal from Peterson

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Junior Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the only goal of the game with 6:56 left in regulation as No. 11 Wellesley College field hockey edged out No. 16 Tufts University in non-conference play on Thursday at the Wellesley College Athletics Fields Complex.
Wellesley improves to 11-2 on the season, snapping a seven game losing streak to Tufts by earning the program's first win over the Jumbos since the Blue took a 3-2 win in overtime on September 12, 2007. Tufts drops to 8-4 overall.

Wellesley capitalized on the last of four penalty corner opportunities, as Peterson scored her eighth of the season on assist from Rachel Hwang (Campbell, Calif.). The ball briefly made its way outside the circle before the Blue corralled it back toward Hwang. The first year forward then shoveled the ball toward Peterson who deposited it on the right post.

Peterson's goal was the only blemish on the day for Tufts' first year goalkeeper Emily Polinski (East Brunswick, N.J.), as she made a pair of saves.

Wellesley junior goalkeeper Lucy Hurlock (Needham, Mass.) made four saves to record the shutout, including an outstanding kick save midway through the second half on rip from the top of the circle by Tufts senior Dakota Sikes-Keilp (Montclair, N.J.).

The Jumbos finished with an 8-4 advantage in corners and a 6-5 advantage in shots but in the end it was the Blue that came out with the 1-0 win in a tightly contested contest.

Wellesley will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play at Springfield on Saturday, October 17, at 1:00 PM. Tufts will play at Bates on Saturday at 12:00 PM.