With a midweek victory over a visiting Babson Beaver squad Tuesday on Kraft Field, the women's soccer team kept its perfect record intact, moving to 5-0.
While the Jumbos prevailed 3-0, the score did not entirely reflect both teams' play, as Tufts just narrowly outshot the Beavers 16-15. And although the game may not have been Tufts' best this season, the effort was enough to lock up its fifth win.
"I think that we've shown a lot this season, and tonight we definitely proved that we can win even when we don't play our best," junior midfielder Fanna Gamal said. "This is a quality that all good teams possess."
The Jumbos grabbed the lead at the 26-minute mark when junior forward Ali Maxwell launched her first goal of the season on a feed from sophomore defender Sarah Nolet. But Nolet, who garnered NESCAC Player of the Week honors Monday, was not done there. She notched a goal of her own less than nine minutes later, increasing her team's lead to two.
"It's nice to win such a mention, but I can't take full responsibility for the acknowledgement," Nolet said. "My teammates have been awesome, and I think the success we're having is just a reflection of all the time we've put in this year in the preseason. I really hope and think we can keep this up."
Tufts kept the offensive pressure on in the second half, with Gamal adding an insurance tally in the game's 48th minute. Gamal headed in her first goal of the season on a cross by junior Cara Cadigan.
"It was a great cross from Cara," Gamal said. "I was just making a run to the far post, like we have practiced, and Cara delivered an awesome pass that I was able to direct into the goal. I am really happy about it and hope that more will follow."
Those three goals were more than enough for Tufts to defeat the Beavers, who became the Jumbos' fifth consecutive shutout victim. Neither of Tufts' goalkeepers, junior Kate Minnehan and sophomore Hannah Jacobs, has allowed a goal this season, a testament to the Jumbo defensive unit.
The win also displayed Tufts' offensive depth, as multiple people got on the board. Through their five games, six different players have scored for the Jumbos, with Nolet and Cadigan tied for the team lead with three apiece.
Tufts' hot start certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by the NCAA. The Jumbos, who were previously unranked in the national polls, shot up to No. 9 this week. Despite the recognition, the team hasn't let it impact its mentality.
"It's nice, but these rankings don't mean anything," Gamal said. "All the teams are so close, and it's just a poll. We have to keep doing what we're doing and not let ourselves get distracted by things. The ranking will mean nothing if we don't keep up our strong play."
The Jumbos will put their unbeaten record on the line Saturday when they travel to Amherst for their first conference battle on the road this season to kick off a four-game stretch away from Kraft Field. Posting a 2-0-1 record, the Lord Jeffs currently sit at third in the NESCAC, behind league-leading Tufts and powerhouse Williams -- currently the nation's top-ranked squad.
Amherst will be looking for redemption after the 1-0 loss it suffered at the hands of the Jumbos last year. The teams were second and third in the conference at the conclusion of the season, with that victory giving the Jumbos the edge.
"I think it's going to be a really good game," Nolet said. "Amherst plays a style that is very similar to ours. Plus, it's a conference game, which makes it that much more intense. We will have to be at our best."
