Box Score 
MEDFORD – In perhaps their best performance of the season, the ninth-ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team went to running time in a 21-4 victory against 13th-ranked Hamilton College on Seniors Day at Bello Field Saturday.
Molly Laliberty, one of eight Jumbos recognized in a pre-game ceremony, stopped 18 of the 22 shots she faced (.818) and junior Caroline Walter scored six goals for the Jumbos. Tufts won its fourth in a row and improved to 11-3 overall and 6-3 in the NESCAC heading into the conference and regular-season finale at Bowdoin on Wednesday.
Hamilton (6-5, 4-5 NESCSAC) had two goals from sophomore Alaina King. She scored the game's first goal just 46 seconds into the contest.
Jumbos Genna Gibbons and Walter tallied 34 seconds apart to put the Jumbos up 2-1, then Sami Rothstein and Margie Carden (four goals, two assists) added goals and Tufts led 4-1.
The Continentals kept it close in the first, with a Aine Cleary goal narrowing the margin to 4-2 with 4:16 remaining in the period. Tufts closed the quarter with the last two, including one by senior defensive standout Maddy Lehan – her first of the season and second of her career.
The Jumbos then began to pull away in the second quarter. They netted the first three goals, including one by Emma Joyce that put the hosts up 9-2. Alex Orlando scored for Hamilton, but an up goal by Walter and Ella Lesperance's second of the game had Tufts leading 11-3 at the half.
King scored an up goal for Hamilton to start the second half, but three straight by the Jumbos – Mae Briody, Anna Clarke and Walter – would put the game in running time at 14-4 with 8:46 remaining in the third. Tufts would add three more in the period, two by Carden, and led 17-4 after 45 minutes.
Two final goals by Walter in the fourth period helped Tufts outscore their guests 4-0 in the frame for the 21-4 final.
Laliberty was consistently excellent with save totals of 4-5-4-5 for each quarter. Becca Gable caused two turnovers for Tufts, Joyce scooped up three ground balls and both Clarke and Kathryn Delaney won five draws. Briody (pictured) set up three goals for Tufts and scored once.
Meghan Lane was very good for Hamilton with six draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Kaitlyn Reed started in goal and made six saves in 30 minutes, while Casey Fiore relieved her for the second half and stopped one shot.
Shots finished 39-27 in favor of Tufts, who had a slim advantage of 15-13 on draw controls. Ground balls were 16 apiece.
