Tufts Women's Lacrosse Picks Up NESCAC Victory over Connecticut College On Senior Day 16-11

MEDFORD, MA (April 5, 2023) -- No.5 Tufts University women's lacrosse team scored six goals in the fourth quarter to pull away from Connecticut College on senior day at Bello Field to pick up a NESCAC victory, 16-11.

Before the game, Tufts honored its six seniors, Courtney Kaufman, Caroline Walter, Kate Wujiack, Becca Gable, Sami Rothstein, Ali Savidge and Mary Grace Reynolds, for their outstanding careers and contributions while at Tufts. The women's lacrosse program celebrated the life, love, and kindness of Madie Nicpon, who passed away in 2021 and was a member of the women's lacrosse team.
 
Tufts' offense started the game scoring the first three goals of the contest as Emma Joyce got it started by winning the opening draw control and running right down the field and scoring to make it 1-0 Jumbos just 15 seconds into the game. Joyce would double Tufts' lead after taking the feed from Caroline Walter and finishing it. Then it would be Walter's turn to get on the scoreboard as she scored from the free position for a 3-0 Tufts lead. Following a Connecticut College goal, Walter scored her second of the quarter again from the free position. Kate Coughlin would score late in the period for the Camels as Tufts held a 4-2 lead at the end of one quarter.

The Jumbos would add two more goals to give themselves a 6-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining before halftime. Margie Carden got on the board off a free position shot for her 27^th goal of the season, while Madeline Delaney found the back of the net with the pass coming from Caroline Conaghan. Connecticut College responded with three goals of their own over the final five minutes before halftime as they cut the Tufts lead to 6-5 going into the halftime break.
 
In the third quarter, Kate Mastrobuono came off the bench and helped provide a huge lift to the team. She helped Tufts regain its two-goal lead after a Camels failed clear led to her finding the back of the net. Following a Courtney Kaufman save on the defensive end, Mastrobuono beat her defender and found Carden open in front of the goal as she scored to make it 8-5 Tufts. After a Connecticut College goal, it was Mastrobuono again who helped jumpstart the offense as this time she found Genna Gibbons on the doorstep and she scored to regain Tufts' three goal lead.
 
Just 40 seconds after a Connecticut College goal, Walter scored her third goal of the afternoon as Carden found her to give the Jumbos a 10-7 lead. The Camels would score with over a minute left in the quarter and threatened to do so again, but Kaufman saved a free position shot as time was running down and Tufts led 10-8 going to the fourth quarter.
 
Joyce and Delaney would get the Jumbo offense started in the fourth quarter as they both scored just 34 seconds apart with Carden assisting on both goals to give Tufts a four-goal lead at 12-8. The Tufts defense led by seniors Mary Grace Reynolds, Becca Gable, and Kate Wujciak along with Kaufman in goal, kept the Camels off the scoreboard for a stretch of over 14 minutes. The offense continued to pour goals into the back of the net as Allie Zorn added two of her own with Carden and Joyce each scoring to build the Jumbos lead up to 16-9. The Camels would add three more over the final stretch as the game would finish 16-11 Tufts.

Joyce led the way with four goals on the afternoon while Carden added six points with three goals and three assists. Walter had four points with three goals and an assist along with Mastrobuono having one goal and four assists for five points.
 
Tufts held an 18-13 draw control advantage with Joyce having 11 draw controls and the Jumbos outshooting Connecticut College 43-23. Kaufman made eight saves and the defense caused seven turnovers. As a team Tufts was a perfect 18-18 on clears.
 
Coughlin led the way for Connecticut College (4-6, 0-6 NESCAC) scoring three goals while Aine Downey added two goals and an assist. Violette Nidds played well in the net, saving 14 shots.

Tufts will continue in NESCAC action as they travel up to Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday, April 12 as they take on Bates College at 5 PM. 

                                                                                                     
                                                                                                    --JUMBOS—