MEDFORD, MA (May 2, 2025) -- The No. 2 ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team will continue its search for its third New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title this weekend, heading to top-seed Middlebury College to battle No. 3 seed Colby College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. The host Panthers and No. 5 seed Wesleyan University will play in the other semifinal at noon Saturday, May 3 on Peter Kohn Field. The Jumbos are coming off a dominating 23-3 win in the NESCAC quarterfinals over Bates College, breaking the NESCAC Tournament record for goals in a game while the 20-goal win was also the highest ever in the NESCAC Tournament.
Game Details
Championship Website
vs. No. 3 seed Colby College (14-2, 8-2 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Middlebury, Vermont - Peter Kohn Field
Live Coverage:
Live Stats -
Live Video
Tufts vs. Colby All-Time, And The Field
The Jumbos come into the weekend on a four-game win streak against the Mules dating back to 2022, as the Jumbos have held Colby to just six goals in each of their last two meetings. Tufts has won eight of the last nine meetings and holds a 30-15 edge in the all-time series with Colby. Tufts knocked off Colby 17-6 earlier in the season on March 29. If Tufts wins on Saturday, the Jumbos will take on either Middlebury or Wesleyan in the final. Tufts is 6-24 all-time against Middlebury, though the last two games with the Panthers have been one-goal games. Tufts earned a 9-8 win in the 2022 NESCAC title game over Middlebury, which was the last loss for the Panthers as they've won 68 straight games since. Tufts and Wesleyan have played 46 total games in the series, with the Jumbos holding a 36-9-1 edge. The two teams have split the last six times against each other, with the Jumbos taking a 15-4 win over the Cardinals on April 5.
A Look At The No. 2 Jumbos (15-1, 9-1 NESCAC)
Tufts comes into the weekend firing on all cylinders offensively, scoring 20 goals in each of the last three games including a season-high 23 its last time out against Bates in the NESCAC quarterfinals. The Jumbos are the NESCAC's and nation's best statistical squads, ranking in the Top 10 in eight categories including in the top five in shots per game, fewest turnovers per game, clearing percentage and scoring offense.
Tufts leads the NESCAC with 17.81 goals per game, while its scoring margin of 11.06 is currently seventh-best in the nation and tops in the NESCAC. The Jumbos rank second in in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 6.75 goals per game which comes out to 17th in Division III, and the Jumbos rank first in the NESCAC and 11th overall in draw controls per game with over 17 an outing. The Jumbos are the top clearing squad in the nation at over 92 percent, while ranking first in the league in points and assists per game as well.
Individually, junior
Allie Zorn is third in the conference in goals per game with 3.13 while senior attack partner
Margie Carden is seventh with 45 scores on the season. Senior playmaker
Ella Lesperance paces the Jumbos in assists per game with 1.63 helpers a night, and Zorn is also in the league leaders with 16 assists this season.
Madeline Delaney has tallied 28 goals this season, and
Caroline Conaghan also has added 26 goals and 12 assists. The Jumbos offensive unit is deep as well, as 11 players have double-digit goals including five attack and six midfielders.
Senior
Genna Gibbons leads the NESCAC and is 18th in the nation in draw controls per game with over seven a contest, and senior defender
Kathryn Fernandopulle ranks seventh in ground balls per game this season with over two pick-ups a game. Senior goalkeeper
Pascale de Buren has been strong all season, as her 53.2 percent save clip is second in the NESCAC with her goals against average of 6.90 is third in the league.
Tufts is in search of its third NESCAC title this weekend, winning back-to-back crowns in 2021 and 2022. Tufts is 13-18 all-time in the NESCAC Tournament, and will be looking for its fifth appearance in the title game.
The Rest of the Field
No. 3 seed Colby College (14-2, 8-2 NESCAC)
Tufts will take on Colby College on Saturday afternoon, and the Mules are having one of their best seasons in program history. Colby has lost just twice and is among the best defensive teams in the country. Colby comes in allowing just 7.31 goals per game as a team, which is 22nd in the nation and third in the NESCAC. The Mules also have netted 12.50 goals per game this season, while coming into the weekend on a six-game win streak after defeating Trinity College last weekend 9-8 in the NESCAC Quarterfinals. Julia Jardina has posted a team-high 55 goals, second-most in the NESCAC, while adding 48 draw controls and five game-winners. Gennie Littlejohn has a team-leading 24 assists, as nine players have double-digit goals for the Mules. Colby's Jillian Kane has played the majority of time in net, posting a 48.0 save percentage. Colby is in search of its fourth all-time NESCAC title, with the last coming in 2017.
No. 1 seed Middlebury College (16-0, 10-0 NESCAC)
Middlebury has reached the NESCA Championship game 15 times and is in pursuit of its 13th conference crown and third in a row. The Panthers posted their fourth straight unbeaten NESCAC regular season and are 60-0 over the last four campaigns. Middlebury has won 67 straight games and 36 in a row on Peter Kohn Field. The program's last loss came in the 2022 conference championship at home. Middlebury leads the conference in goals against average (6.06) and save percentage (.534), while ranking second in points per game (22.19) and goals per game (15.31). Hope Shue leads the NESCAC in goals (62), points per game (5.31), and goals per game (3.87). She is the program's all-time leader in goals (282) and points (357). Gina Driscoll has started all 16 contests in the Middlebury net and owns the top goals against average (5.71) and save percentage (.549) in the NESCAC. Elizabeth Savage has seen action in 12 games and ranks second in the league with a 6.67 goals against average.
No. 5 seed Wesleyan University (12-4, 6-4 NESCAC)
Wesleyan, the 2024 NESCAC Runners-Up, has advanced to the semifinal round for the fourth year in a row and the fifth time overall and is seeking its first NESCAC title. The Cardinals are riding a six-game win streak heading into the semifinal contest. Wesleyan ranks third in points per game (18.63) and assists per game (6.31). The Cardinals feature a balanced offensive attack with three players above the 40-point plateau. Sam DeLeo leads Wesleyan in points (43) and assists (22) while Elle Priesing has scored a team-high 28 goals. Izzy Weintraub has started all 16 games in goal for Wesleyan and ranks fourth among the league leaders in goals against average (7.20) and save percentage (.515). During the regular season, the Panthers earned a narrow 10-9 victory over Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn. The programs have met once in the NESCAC Tournament, as the Panthers won 11-5 in the championship game a season ago.
Weekend Schedule
Saturday, May 3 - Semifinals
12 PM - Middlebury vs. Wesleyan
3 PM - Tufts vs. Colby
Sunday, May 4 - Finals
12 PM - NESCAC Championship Game
--JUMBOS--
