Box Score WATERVILLE, Maine - The third-ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team pulled away from #9 Colby College for an 18-12 NESCAC victory on Saturday in Maine.
Tufts improves to 2-0 overall and in the league, while Colby falls to 1-1 in both.
Kathryn Delaney scored two of her three goals early for the Jumbos, including one when Tufts was down a player at 11:40 of the first half for a 5-3 advantage. Grace Toner then scored two of the next three goals by the Mules and the hosts were within 6-5 at the 6:24 mark.
The Jumbos netted the final two strikes of the first 30 minutes, by Colette Smith (three goals and an assist overall) and Catherine Lawliss (five goals and an assist), and Tufts led 8-5 at the break. Junior goalie Molly Laliberty had nine saves in the first half, helping the Jumbos withstand a 10-4 disadvantage on draw controls in the first frame.
Smith had both Jumbo scores as the teams traded goals early in the second half keeping it a three-goal game at 10-7. However, Tufts opened up some space with a three-goal run that gave them a 13-7 advantage on Kirsten Grazewski's goal at the 17:39 mark.
Colby battled back with the next two, but another three-goal Jumbo stretch put the margin at 16-9. Delaney had her third of the contest at 9:48 to end the spurt. The defecit would be too much to make up for the hosts, though Anna Eddy did score twice in the last eight minutes for Colby making the final score 18-12.
The Jumbos continued to earn and excel at making free-position shots, finishing six for 13. They have 14 free-position goals in two games this season. They improved on draws to take a 10-9 count in the second half. Shots finished at a near-even 35-33 in Tufts' favor.
Anna Clarke led Tufts with five draw controls. Lindsay Erickson caused two turnovers for the Jumbos and Laliberty finished with 12 saves.
Gianna Bruno (11 shots), Robyn Pirie and Toner all scored twice for Colby, who finished with a 26-12 groundball advantage. Hannah Corey caused two turnovers in addition to scooping up two grounders. Colby goalie Hannah Marino stopped 10 shots.
