Box Score MEDFORD - Sophomore Caroline Nowak scored with just 10 seconds left in regulation to give the Tufts University women's lacrosse team a vital 6-5 win over Bates College in NESCAC action Tuesday afternoon at Bello Field.
The #18 Jumbos came out on top in their fifth one-goal conference game of the season, improving to 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the league. Tufts had lost two straight one-goal NESCAC games versus Hamilton (13-12) and Amherst (7-6). Ninth-ranked Bates lost their second in a row, falling to 10-3 overall and 5-3 in the league.
Nowak took a pass at the top of the circle and curled around the right edge of the goal area. She beat a defender, darted inside toward the net, and put her shot past Bates keeper Hannah Jeffrey to give the Jumbos a 6-5 lead. Bates' Sydney Cowles controlled the ensuing draw, but was swarmed by Jumbo defenders and couldn't make any progress as time expired.
Bates had tied the game on a free-position opportunity with 5:57 remaining in the second half. Kaileigh Maguire fired a pass across the goal area to Camille Belletete on the right side and her shot beat Jumbo keeper Audrey Evers to even the game at 5-5.
Belletete controlled the next draw, but the Bobcats sandwiched a pair of turnovers around a Tufts turnover giving the Jumbos possession late. Tufts called a time-out with 1:16 left in regulation leading to Nowak's game-winner.
Back-to-back goals by Sydney Howard, including a free-position goal with just one second on the clock, had put Bates in front 3-2 heading into halftime. Jumbo goals by Kate Mackin and Dakota Adamec surrounded a Moriah Greenstein goal for Bates earlier in the half.
Senior Brigid Bowser turned the score around for Tufts with two in a row to start the second half giving Tufts a 4-3 lead with 18:07 remaining. Alex Briody evened the score at 4-4 with a free-position goal for Bates at 13:08, but Mackin answered for the Jumbos at 10:52 leading up to the dramatic conclusion.
Bowser, Lauren Dillon, and Olivia Veillette all caused two turnovers for the Jumbos, who out-shot Bates 26-14. Bowser's five groundballs led the hosts and Evers finished with four saves in the Jumbo cage.
Jeffrey was good in goal for Bates making 13 saves, including eight in the first half. Cara Cappellini scooped up three groundballs while Belletete won three draws.
The Jumbos also finished with a 15-9 advantage in groundballs and turned the ball over just six times compared to 18 by the Bobcats.
Tufts hits the road for NESCAC action at Wesleyan on Saturday at noon. Bates remains on the road to play at Connecticut College in conference play also on Saturday at noon.
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