MEDFORD, Mass. -- The No. 9 nationally ranked Tufts University Jumbos won a defensive struggle with No. 20 Bates field hockey on Saturday, defeating the Bobcats 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament. 

Tufts (11-5), the second seed in the eight-team tournament, got the lone goal of the day in the 37th minute. The Jumbos earned a penalty corner and Lainie Pearson found Reegan McCluskey for the eventual game-winning tally. 

Neither team recorded a shot and neither team earned a penalty corner in the first half. The third quarter saw the action pick up significantly, with the Jumbos forcing Bates senior goalkeeper Grace Biddle (State College, Pa.) to make five saves. All seven of Tufts' shots came in the third quarter. 

The seventh seeded Bobcats (9-7) recorded three shots in the third quarter and three more in the fourth quarter. Bates earned a couple of penalty corners in the fourth quarter but could not get the equalizer. Sam Gibby made three saves for Tufts, earning the shutout victory in the cage.

Sophomore Anna Cote (Auburn, Maine) paced the Bobcats with two shots, including one on goal.