Box Score MEDFORD – Catherine Lawliss, Claire Wright and Emily Games combined for 12 goals and Molly Laliberty was outstanding in net as the third-ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team rolled past Bates 18-2 in a NESCAC game on Saturday at Bello Field.
Lawliss finished with five goals and two assists, Wright had four goals and Games added three scores with one assist as the Jumbos remained undefeated at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the NESCAC East. Laliberty stopped 11 of the 13 shots that the Bobcats put on goal for a .846 percentage.
Bates (1-2, 0-2) was led by Kathryn Grennon's goal and assist. Rachael Deptula substituted in goal for the Bobcats and saved eight of the 14 shots she saw in the second half (.571).
On a beautiful day in Medford, Lawliss started strong with three goals and two assists in the first 14 minutes of play to lead Tufts to an early 7-0 lead. Grennon scored a man-advantage goal for Bates at 14:16 to put them on the scoreboard. She then assisted Sadie O'Neil's goal at 13:13 making the score 8-2.
Tufts tallied the final four of the first half and the game was in running time with seven minutes to go until intermission and the Jumbos leading 12-2. Wright had two of them. The Jumbos attempted 26 shots in the first 30 minutes to 12 for Bates. Tufts controlled possession winning 11 of 15 first-half draws.
In the second half, the Jumbos shut out Bates with Laliberty making five saves. Tufts' six goals included the first of the year by Kate Majoy assisted by freshman Lucy Hodge.
Senior Kirsten Grazewski added a goal and three assists for the Jumbos, while Anna Clarke and Ananda Kao both recorded four draw controls. Tufts was 15 for 21 on draws overall. Becca Gable led the hosts with three ground balls.
Catie Clark grabbed five ground balls for Bates, while Zoe Knauss caused two turnovers and Jordyn Tveter took two DC's.
At 3-0 in the East, Tufts wins the division and will host the 2021 NESCAC Championship Game next weekend. Their opponent is not yet known.
Tufts travels to play at Division I Dartmouth College tomorrow in an 11 am start. Bates will host Connecticut College tomorrow at 2 pm.
