Box Score Game recap courtesy of Middlebury College
MIDDLEBURY, VT – Tufts converted six of seven free-position shots on its way to a 12-11 victory over third-ranked Middlebury in the season-opener for both squads on Saturday.
The Panthers entered the game ranked third in the IWLCA pre-season poll, while the Jumbos owned the 14th spot. Middlebury returns to action next Saturday when it entertains Connecticut College, while Tufts hosts Endicott on Wednesday.
Katie Ritter gave Middlebury a 2-0 lead 2:23 into the game with a pair of free-position goals. Kate Mackin responded twice for the Jumbos to knot the game at 2-2 with 23:47 left in the first half.
The Panthers scored twice before Lindsey Walker netted a pair of unassisted goals for the Jumbos, and Calie Nowak converted a free-position to give Tufts its first lead of the game at 5-4 with 2:38 left.
Middlebury's Alli Sciarretta converted a feed from Mary O'Connell with 34 seconds remaining to send the game into halftime knotted at 5-5.
The Panthers held a 7-6 second-half lead when the Jumbos ran off four straight to take a 10-7 advantage with 11:12 remaining. Mackin found a cutting Caroline Ross for the first goal, before Caroline Kingsley and Nowak converted free-position attempts. Ross closed the run with a free-position tally of her own with a low shot into the back of the net.
Middlebury battled back, as Ritter found her sister Chrissy at 10:03, before Hollis Perticone converted a feed from behind the net by Bridget Instrum to make it a one-goal game with 8:41 left.
Ross scored a key goal for the Jumbos on their next possession, converting a feed from Jenn Duffy to give her squad an 11-9 advantage with 7:24 remaining.
Tufts later slowed the game down, but turned it over allowing Laurel Pascal to score from O'Connell at the 3:14 mark.
The Jumbos won the ensuing draw control before Mackin cut straight down the middle with the Panther defense extended to give Tufts a 12-10 lead with 2:23 left to play.
Pascal won the draw control and scored moments later on a free-position to make it a one-goal game once again, this time with 1:54 on the clock.
Middlebury had one last chance after a Tufts turnover, but a decent look from Pascal was stopped by Tufts goalkeeper Rachel Gallimore with 1:04 remaining.
The Panthers held a slim 25-22 shots advantage in the game, leading 11-8 in ground balls and 14-11 in draw controls. Madeleine Kinker made seven saves in goal for Middlebury in her first career start. Gallimore was impressive in goal for Tufts, stopping several point-blank shots on her way to 10 saves.
Pascal's four goals paced Middlebury to go along with her nine draw controls and three caused turnovers. Katie Ritter scored twice with an assist, while O'Connell earned a goal and three helpers.
Mackin, Walker and Ross each scored three times for Tufts, while Walker had three ground balls and Emily Wright earned three draw controls.
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