Box Score HANOVER, N.H. - The Tufts University women's lacrosse team built an 8-1 halftime lead and didn't look back to earn an impressive 11-5 win at Division I Dartmouth College on Sunday at Scully-Fahey Field.
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| Anna Clarke contributed to three of Tufts' first five goals in the game. |
It's a momentous win for Tufts (5-0), ranked third in Division III. The game was the first this season for Dartmouth after the Ivy League canceled conference competition for the spring. The Big Green hadn't played since March 2020 and have been limited by COVID regulations on campus and some injuries. However, 15 players from their 2020 team that was 5-0 and ranked #9 in the IWLCA national poll played in today's game.
Emily Games scored four times and Catherine Lawliss had three for the Jumbos. Anna Clarke finished with two goals, an assist and four draw controls. Junior goalie Molly Laliberty stopped 14 of Dartmouth's 19 shots on goal (.737).
The Jumbos sprinted to a 3-0 lead on two goals by Games and another by Clarke that forced a Dartmouth time-out less than five minutes into the game. With another goal by Clarke and Kathyrn Delaney's free-position score at 17:57 the Jumbos led 5-0.
Dartmouth got on the scoreboard when Nina Nesselbush scored at 15:45 of the first half. However, the Jumbos netted the final three goals of the opening period - including a goal and an assist from Kirsten Grazewski - and the visitors led 8-1 at the break.
Tufts attempted 20 shots to Dartmouth's eight in the first 30 minutes of play. The Jumbos were 4 for 7 on free-position shots in the half. Dartmouth put all eight of their shots on net, but Laliberty saved seven.
The Jumbos then scored the first two goals of the second half to complete a five-goal run overall that gave them a 10-1 lead on Games' fourth of the game three minutes into the period.
Dartmouth would finish with four of the final five goals over the final 25 minutes of play, scored by Jenna Donohue (free position), Victoria Norchi, Veta Mayer and Michelle Yu. Mayer's goal and assist led the Big Green offensively.
Laliberty finished an outstanding weekend for the Jumbos which included 11 saves on 13 shots in a win over Bates yesterday. In the two games she made 25 saves combined while allowing seven goals (.781). She was credited with 13 ground balls at Dartmouth. Tufts' Ananda Kao added three ground balls and three caused turnovers against the Big Green.
For Dartmouth, Claire Marshall collected four ground balls while Mayer won three draw controls. Riley Ricciardi caused three turnovers and won a ground ball. Goalie Tamer Luzi made 13 saves.
This is Tufts' first win over a D1 school since the 1983 Jumbo team defeated Boston University 11-10.
The Jumbos will host the conference championship game next Saturday. Their opponent is not yet determined.
