MEDFORD, Mass. – The Connecticut College women's soccer team rallied from a two-goal first half deficit to earn a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon with No. 2 Tufts from Bello Field.
It was a slow start for both sides, as the first shot on target did not come until the 15th minute, when Maia Kafer (Philadelphia, Pa.) came up with a save on Reese Birch. The Jumbos nearly opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, but Birch hit the crossbar, before Waverly Sumner put Tufts in front 1-0 at 25:07.
Six minutes later the Jumbos doubled the advantage as Maren Jones connected with Rachel Arcella to make it 2-0. Conn responded with some pressure and got on the board with just under four minutes left in the half. Morgan Lovell (Franklin, Mass.) worked her way into the box, firing a low-driven cross to Virginia Head (Acton, Mass.) who tapped the ball to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the break.
The Jumbos had an early chance to push the lead back to two goals, but Emily Nicholas was denied by Kafer. Just three minutes later the Camels drew even. Lucy Hurlbut (Westport, Conn.) played a through ball into the path of Danica Zicha (Belmont, Mass.) who fired low to the far post to make it 2-2 at 52:26.
Both teams upped the energy looking for the go-ahead goal. Tufts came closest to going back in front as Jordyn Miller struck the crossbar in the 55th minute. Birch hit the post in the 73rd minute, before Kafer came up with four more saves in the final 10 minutes, as Conn earned the hard fought 2-2 draw.
Tufts outshot Conn 29-4 overall, including 12-2 on shots on goal, while holding a 6-2 edge on corner kicks.
Kafer got the start in goal, recording a career-high nine saves. Head and Zicha both tallied one goal to lead the Conn attack, while Hurlbut and Lovell both chipped in one assist.
Gigi Edwards got the start in net, finishing with zero saves. Arcella and Sumner paced Tufts with a goal apiece, while Jones added an assist.
Conn returns to action tomorrow morning as the Camels take on No. 21 Colby College at 11:00 a.m. in Waterville, Maine.
