MEDFORD, MA (April 2, 2024) -- The No. 3 Tufts University women's lacrosse squad scored six times in the second quarter, while using a 8-1 run to pull away for a 17-9 win against No. 10 Williams College in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) contest on Bello Field Tuesday evening on a rainy, chilly night.
The Ephs (7-2, 3-2 NESCAC) were ready for the challenge that the No. 3 Jumbos had in store for them Tuesday, as Reece Willison tallied an unassisted goal 4:30 into the game to put Williams ahead 2-1 in the early going. Junior
Margie Carden would net her 31st goal of the season with the man advantage at 7:50 of the first quarter to tie the game, and an
Ella Lesperance strike on a nifty move on the near post made it 3-2 going to the second quarter.
Caroline Conaghan got the second frame going for the hosts with a goal at 12:34, and the five-goal run ended in one of the prettiest plays you'll see on a lacrosse field as
Kathryn Fernandopulle picked off a pass, sprinted forward all alone and made a perfect feed to
Allie Zorn for her 22nd goal of the season and a 6-2 lead for Tufts.
After Williams stopped the run with 6:46 to go in the half on a Lauren Morganlander EMO goal, Tufts finished the half on another 3-1 spurt as Zorn, Carden and
Emma Joyce all scored unassisted to make it 9-4 at the break.
Tufts outscored Williams 4-3 in the third quarter, and took its largest lead of the game at seven on a
Madeline Delaney goal off a great feed from Lesperance to make it 14-7 with 12:39 left. Williams tallied twice to make it a five-goal game with six minutes left, but the Jumbos came right back with three straight to finish the scoring in earning the eight-goal win.
The scoring load was once again balanced for Tufts, but Lesperance finished with two goals and three assists for a team-high five points. Joyce also finished with a game-high four scores, adding three draw controls, and Zorn posted four points on three goals and an assist. Carden finished with four points, recording three goals and a helper, while Delaney tallied a goal along with her six draw wins and two ground balls.
Genna Gibbons was once again stout on the circle with five draw controls and a grounder, while Fernandopulle added three caused turnovers and three ground balls as well.
Caroline Conaghan picked up three loose balls and scored once, and goalkeeper
Pascale de Buren made nine saves between the pipes for the Jumbos.
Williams got three points apiece from Franny Donohue and Willison, while Claudia Russell finished with three draw controls and two points.
Tufts will look to stay unbeaten Saturday afternoon on the road, as the Jumbos head to No. 8 Wesleyan University for a noon contest in Middletown, CT in another big NESCAC contest.
--JUMBOS--
