Tufts Edges Wesleyan 2-0 in Field Hockey First Round
Courtesy Wesleyan Sports Information
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Tufts junior Lea Napolitano scored two goals in a span of 1:03 midway through the first half to lead the Jumbos to a 2-0 victory over host Wesleyan in the NESCAC Field Hockey tournament first round. Tufts advances to the NESCAC semi-finals which will be played at Middlebury College Saturday, Nov. 6. The Jumbos will play third-seeded Williams while top-seeded Middlebury takes on seventh-seeded Colby. The championship game is slated for Sunday, Nov. 7.
Napolitano netted the game-winner after taking a cross from leading scorer senior Dana Panzer to the left and firing a shot into the cage. Panzer now has 33 points on the season with 12 goals and nine assists. Napolitano used her strong stick, speed and skill to make an individual rush from the midfield area and carry the ball into the circle before finding the net with her second goal of the contest.
Sophomore goalie Marilyn Duffy-Cabana gave Tufts its eighth win by shutout this season by making seven saves, two of those in the final five minutes with Wesleyan pressing to get on the board. It was the second victory by Tufts over Wesleyan in five days as the teams met in Medford, Mass. for a regular-season contest Oct. 26 with Tufts prevailing, 2-1 in overtime.
