HARTFORD, Conn. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams lost for the first time this season, 2-0, against the Tufts University Jumbos in New Englands Small College Athlec Conference (NESCAC) field hockey action this afternoon on Ounjian Field.  Trinity, ranked No. 5 in the nation, falls to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the NESCAC, while the No. 3-ranked Jumbos improve to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the league.  Trinity hosts No. 15-ranked Bowdoin, is third consecutive nationally-ranked opponent, in a conference contest on Saturday at 11 a.m. in its next game.

The momentum swung back and forth thgroughout the scoreless first half, as Trinity junior goalkeeper Olivia McMichael (Glenside, Pa.) was forced to make to early saves in teh first quarter followed by two early stops by Tufts goalie Sam Gibby in the second frame.  Trinity's Caelin Flaherty (Upton, Mass.) nearly scored midway through the second quarter, but Kylie Rosenquest made a defensive save for Tufts.  McMichael added a pair of stops in the final two minutes of the first half to keep the game at 0-0.

Both teams made defensive saves in the third quarter to preserve the scoreless tie, one by Andrea DelGiudice for Tufts against Bantam sophomore back Izzy Deveney (Westport, Conn.) 2:18 after halftime and another by Deveney against Rosenquest.  McMichael added three saves in the third quarter, as the Jumbos held a 12-to-6 shooting edge after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, McMichael made two more early saves against Tufts' Rachel Scrivanich and senior tri-captain Elle Fair (Westport, Conn.) added yet another defensive save for the Bantams, before the Jumbos broke through with a goal by Reagan McCluskey from Ashley Zolin off a penalty corner with 5:49 left to play.  Zolin added an insurance goal from DelGiudice for the home team. McMichael finished with 10 saves and Gibby had three.  Flaherty and junior Jackie Frank (Longmeadow, Mass.) each had two shots for Trinity, who could not get a shot on goal in the final quarter.