LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College suffered a 3-1 home loss to visiting Tufts University Saturday in NESCAC women's soccer action. The Jumbos, winners of four straight, improve to 8-2-1 (4-2-1 NESCAC) while the Bobcats (4-6-1, 1-6 NESCAC) drop their fifth-straight decision.

Tufts owned a 2-0 advantage after the initial 45:00 of play. Elsi Aires (Jr.-Westborough, Mass.) deposited her team-leading sixth goal of the season at the 5:15 mark of the first half. Lena Sugrue (Jr.-Mill Valley, Calif.) followed at 20:20 with her second of the year, providing the Jumbos its two-goal cushion going into intermission.

Grace Gesmondi put the garnet and white on the board in the 72nd minute (71:38) as the senior unloaded a 30-yard laser of a direct kick over the mitts of Tufts goalkeeper, Gigi Edwards (So.-Menlo Park, Calif.), and into the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. The tally marked the first for Gesmondi since the 2021 campaign.

The Jumbos ended the Bobcats' hopes for a comeback just 7:13 later (78:51) as Sarah Hauck (Fy.-Austin, Texas) one-timed an Erin Duncan (Gr.-Shrewsbury, Mass.) cross for an insurance goal. Tufts outshot its host by a margin of 18-5 (7-2 on frame).

Edwards earned the goalkeeping victory, recording a lone save in 90:00 total minutes. Ruby Reimann made four saves (90:00) in net for the Bobcats.

Bates will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 19, when they visit Connecticut College at 11:30 a.m.