WATERVILLE, ME (March 30, 2024) -- The No. 3 Tufts University women's lacrosse team trailed early at No. 9 Colby College, but a 7-0 run over a 14-minute stretch of the first half helped propel the Jumbos to an emphatic 15-6 win over the host Mules in conference play from Bill Alfond Field Saturday.
The Jumbos moved to 9-0 on the season, which marked the longest win streak to start a season since the abbreviated 2021 season that saw Tufts go 10-0 before falling in the national title game to Salisbury University. As for this season, of the nine Jumbos' victories so far this season, six have come over ranked foes while all but one of the nine wins has seen the running clock rule in play at some point during the game.
Saturday's game saw the Jumbos start slow in the first 10 minutes of the game, as goals by Colby's Julia Jardina and Julia Maimonis had the host Mules ahead 2-1.
Junior
Ella Lesperance would get the Jumbos in gear with an unassisted tally at 6:55, as the score started a 7-0 run over the next 14 minutes for Tufts that finished with the visitors leading 9-2. During the run, senior
Madeline Delaney and sophomore
Allie Zorn tallied woman-up goals while
Margie Carden had a goal and assist.
Colby (6-2, 3-2 NESCAC) scored to stop the run at the 2:37 mark of the second quarter, but Zorn and
Caroline Cromwell finished the first half with goals to give the Jumbos a 10-3 lead at the break. The Jumbos would continue to add on, leading by as much as 10 at 15-5 on a Delaney goal at 12:47 of the fourth quarter.
The Jumbos defensive unit and goalkeeping was stellar on Saturday, holding the Mules to a season-low six goals and just 23 shots. Tufts won the shot battle 31-23, and was successful on all 19 clears and earned an 14-11 edge on draw controls.
Six Tufts' players posted multiple-goal games against Colby, led by the three from Zorn, who also chalked up three ground balls. Carden recorded a team-high six points on two goals and four helpers, as she moved into ninth all-time in points at Tufts with 206.
Sophomore
Kate Deehan scored on both of her shots on goal, and Delaney tallied an all-around strong game with two goals, four draw controls and a caused turnover and ground ball. Joyce picked up two draw controls and two goals.
Kathryn Fernandopulle tallied five ground balls and a caused turnover, and
Genna Gibbons picked up four grounders as well for Tufts.
Sophomore
Elsa Schutt also added six draw controls and a ground ball for the Jumbos, and
Pascale de Buren stopped 10 shots while allowing just six in the win.
Colby got three goals from Jardina, who also tallied four draw controls. Sarah Hearns also made 10 saves for the Mules.
Tufts will be back in action on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., hosting Williams College on Bello Field in an important NESCAC contest in Medford, MA.
--JUMBOS--
