MEDFORD, MA (April 13, 2024) -- Top-ranked Middlebury College scored three straight goals midway through the fourth quarter and a furious late rally came up just short as the No. 4 Tufts University women's lacrosse squad dropped a heart breaker 14-13 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action from Bello Field Saturday on Senior Day.
After Middlebury (12-0, 7-0 NESCAC) took a 10-5 lead after the first half, Tufts battled back with a five-goal run in the third quarter. Senior
Emma Joyce scored the opening goal of the third stanza unassisted to make it 10-6, and
Margie Carden tallied back-to-back strikes to make it 10-8 midway through the third frame.
Senior
Madeline Delaney and junior
Ella Lesperance would help tie the game for the Jumbos, as Lesperance netted her 28th of the season from
Elsa Schutt to make it 10-10 after 45 minutes of action. The Panthers responded with three straight goals over a three-minute stretch to take a 14-11 edge after a Hope Shue goal at 5:28 remaining.
Junior
Kate Mastrobuono tallied her 11th of the season with 4:44 to play to make it 14-12, and a free-position goal from Delaney with 2:24 left brought the Jumbos to within one at 14-13. The Jumbos got the ensuing draw control, but couldn't capitalize but regained position after a strong ride after a forced turnover by Joyce.
The Jumbos would get a great chance with just under a minute to play, but Gina Driscoll made a save on the near post to help secure the win for the Panthers.
Carden finished with four goals and two ground balls, as she upped her goal total to 186 for her career. She now sits just four tallies shy of the Tufts women's lacrosse goal record of 190. Delaney had a strong game of three goals, two grounders and three draw controls, and Lesperance also finished with two tallies and an assist.
Sophomore
Allie Zorn finished with two goals and an assist, and Mastrobuono came off the bench to record a goal and two assists. Junior
Genna Gibbons picked up two ground balls, one draw controls and an assist, while Schutt recorded four draw controls.
Junior defender had a strong contest with three caused turnovers and a team-best six ground balls, and senior
Nicola Sommers held Middlebury leading scorer to just two goals. Tufts held a 19-12 edge in ground balls on Saturday, and was successful on all 14 clears.
Pascale de Buren made eight stops for the Jumbos.
Middlebury got a game-high five goals from Susan Rowley, while Kate Motley came off the bench to score three times. Driscoll stopped six shots and Chloe Newman picked up a team-high three grounders. The Panthers outshot Tufts 30-24, while holding a slight 16-15 edge in draw controls.
Tufts will now finish its 2024 regular season with back-to-back road games, starting with a trip to Amherst College Saturday, April 20 in Amherst, MA.
--JUMBOS--
