CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Freshman Mariah Harvey-Brown (Mill Valley, Calif.) tallied a goal in each half to power Tufts University over Lesley University 2-1 tonight in non-conference action at Edward Field. The Jumbos, who were ranked No. 5 in New England in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America regional poll, move to 5-1-1. The Lynx, who saw their regular season home unbeaten streak snapped at 23 matches, fall to 7-3-0 on the year.
Tufts sophomore keeper Eileen McGarry (Bolton, Mass.) was credited with two saves as she improves to 5-1-1 on the season while Lesley goalie Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.) stopped five shots in the loss as her record dips to 6-2-0.
Harvey-Brown gave the Jumbos an early 1-0 lead with her first goal of the match in the 14th minute. Sophomore Robin Estus (Houston, Texas) saw her shot blocked by Berard but the first year freshman was there to bury the rebound for her third mark of the year.
The Lynx had several chances in the first half but were unable to connect for a score. In the 11th minute, Lynx senior Alexis Giusti (Meridian, Calif.) chipped a pass to classmate Cameron Brown (Marshfield, Mass.) who ripped a shot from the ride side of the box, but McGarry was there to make the save.
Lesley nearly knotted the match at 1-1 in the 22nd minute of play when Giusti corralled a loose ball on the top left corner of the penalty area, but her shot curled left of the nearside post.
Perhaps the best chance for the hosts in the first half came off a free kick off the foot of sophomore Lindsey Bos (Valencia, Calif.). Bos sent a curling cross towards the far post, but a Tufts defender got her head on the ball to cause a corner kick. The Jumbos were able to clear the corner to keep the Lynx scoreless and went into halftime at 1-0.
Harvey-Brown connected for her second goal of the match, and what proved to be the game-winner, in the 67th minute when she one-timed a pass inside the box from sophomore Jess Capone (Schenectady, N.Y.) to put the visitors up 2-0.
Lesley would cut the Tufts lead in half 11 minutes later when Giusti, with almost no angle to shoot, lofted a shot from the far left side that sailed across the box and ricocheted off the far post before dribbling into the back of the net for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
After a red card was distributed in the 81st minute, Tufts was forced to play down for the remainder of the game. The Lynx nearly capitalized off the free kick as senior Jasmine Sanchez (Chino, Calif.) settled a loose ball at the top of the box and sent a rocket towards the Jumbos goal, but McGarry made the save falling to her left to keep the match at 2-1.
Each side fired 12 shots on the night while the Lynx held a slim 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Lesley will be back in action on Saturday, October 4th when they travel to Elms College for a match with the Blazers at 1:00p in New England Collegiate Conference play. Tufts will also return to the pitch on Saturday as they travel to Middlebury College for a 1:30p kickoff.