BABSON PARK, Mass.—No. 16 Tufts University got two goals and an assist from senior Lia Sagerman (La Jolla, Calif.) and built an early three-goal lead before hanging on for a 3-2 victory over Babson College in non-conference field hockey action tonight at MacDowell Field.

Junior Chelsea Yogerst (San Diego, Calif.) added a goal and Alexandra Jamison (Gaithersburg, Md.) chipped in with an assist for the Jumbos. Senior Kelly Walsh (Gardner, Mass.) and sophomore Caroline Malone (Walpole, Mass.) scored unassisted goals for Babson, who had its two-game winning streak snapped with the loss.

With the win, Tufts moves to 1-1 on the season while Babson drops to 3-2.

Tufts opened the scoring just 3:03 into the contest when Sagerman carried the ball more than 20 yards down the right wing and hammered home a shot from close range past Babson junior net minder Kayla Florence (Milton, Mass.) for an early 1-0 advantage.

The Jumbos broke the game open with two more tallies midway through the first half to take a commanding 3-0 lead just over 21 minutes into the game. Yogerst scored her third goal of the season off an assist from Sagerman at the 15:16 mark and Sagerman followed with her second marker, just over minutes later, again carrying the ball to the net from outside the circle following a long pass from Jamison.

Babson, who was outshot 5-0 in the early going, trimmed the lead to 3-1 going into the intermission on Walsh's goal with 9:44 remaining in the half. The Beavers maintained possession following a penalty corner and Walsh was able to pounce on the rebound after senior back Tricia McQuade's (Barrington, R.I.) shot was blocked for her fourth tally of the season and her third in the last two games.

Tufts looked poised to extend its lead early in the second half but Florence was able to make three key stops to keep Babson within striking distance. The junior goalkeeper came charging off her line to deny Jumbos' senior forward Missy Karp (Berwyn, Pa.) on a breakaway attempt just over six minutes after halftime, and she twice denied junior midfielder Emily Cannon (Atkinson, N.H.) with pad saves.

Despite struggling to maintain possession against Tufts pressure at times, the Beavers continued to press forward creating their best chances of the night over the game's final 20 minutes. Jumbos' sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Keenan (Greenland, N.H.) made five second half saves, including maybe her best of the night with just over 11 minutes to go, charging out to make a blocker save on Walsh before getting up to deny Malone's rebound attempt.

Babson would finally break though to cut the deficit to 3-2 at the 65:01 mark on Malone's third goal of the season. The sophomore forward took a long cross from junior Morgan Lockwood (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and after Kennan denied her initial shot, she was able to dive and hit a shot past the lunging keeper to draw the Beavers within one.

The Jumbos took control over the final five minutes though, never allowing Babson to threaten again, as they hung on for a one-goal win and their first victory of the season.

Tufts held an 18-8 lead in shots on goal, and a slim 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.

Florence made seven stops on the night for Babson, while Tufts junior Katie Stuntz (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) earned the win facing just two shots in the first half before giving way to Keenan for the final 35 minutes.

Babson is back in action on Saturday afternoon when they open up New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action as they host MIT in a 12:00p.m. start. Tufts will travel to face New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foe Wesleyan College in a 12:00p.m. game on Saturday.