Box Score
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Brigid Bowser had three points, controlled three draws, scooped three groundballs, and caused three turnovers
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HARTFORD – First-year attacker Molly Cox (Norwell, MA) scored a career-high four goals to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 12-8 victory over the visiting Tufts University Jumbos in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's lacrosse Championship Quarterfinals this afternoon on Robin Sheppard Field.
Reigning NCAA Division III Champion Trinity, ranked No. 1 in the nation, stays perfect through its last 23 games and improves to 15-0 overall this spring. The Jumbos finish their season with a 7-8 overall record.
Trinity relied on a strong first half to get out of the first round, jumping out to a 3-0 lead behind goals by Cox, senior attacker Hadley Duncan (Rye, NY), who scored on a free-position shot, and senior tri-captain Megan Leonhard (Summit, NJ), who pierced the defense for a point blank shot.
Tufts rookie midfielder Brigid Bowser (Westborough, MA) stopped the run with a goal, before Tufts scored two of the following three goals to cut the Trinity lead to 4-3.
Leonhard, Cox, and sophomore midfielder Renee Olson (Ridgewood, NJ) scored consecutive goals for Trinity to create some separation, but Tufts junior attacker Gabby Horner (Allentown, NJ) scored with 45 seconds remaining in the opening half, as the teams headed to the break with the score at 7-4 in favor of the Bantams.
Trinity built a 9-4 lead with two quick goals to start the second half, but Tufts put up a fight, outscoring Trinity, 4-3, the rest of the way. In the second half, senior co-captain Kerry Eaton (Norfolk, MA) scored twice for Tufts, first-year Caroline Ross (Sewickley, MA) had a goal and two assists, and senior Kaitlyn Leidl (Califon, NJ) had two assists.
Free-position goals by Leonhard and junior attacker Shea Kusiak (Longmeadow, MA) gave Trinity an 11-6 lead with 5:01 remaining, which was enough insurance to keep Tufts from striking distance, as time wound down to Trinity's 15th win of the season.
Senior tri-captain Olivia Whitney (Danvers, MA) made several key stops in goal for Trinity, finishing with eight saves on 15 shots, while Tufts senior Tess Shapanka (Sudbury, MA) made three stops in net for the Jumbos.
Leonhard finished with three goals for the Bantams, while Eaton finished her collegiate career with three goals in the game to lead the Jumbos offensively.
In the NESCAC Semi-final Round, Trinity will face No. 6 Hamilton, who upset No. 3 Bowdoin, 10-9, this afternoon. The game will be played next Saturday (May 4) at noon on Robin Sheppard Field.
Game Box Score
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