MEDFORD, MA (March 16, 2023) -- Sophomore
Margie Carden scored three times for the No. 2 Tufts University women's lacrosse team, while the defensive unit surrendered only five goals as the Jumbos topped visiting Roger Williams University 12-5 in non-conference action from Bello Field Thursday.
The Jumbos (3-0) started slow offensively in the contest, but it was the defense that was there to hold the Hawks (3-3) scoreless over the first 15 minutes. Tufts got on the board just under four minutes into the contest, as
Emma Joyce tallied on a free position shot. The lead was doubled with 4:42 to play in the opening stanza, as
Ella Lesperance netted an unassisted goal for Tufts.
First-year
Allie Zorn would finish the scoring in the first quarter with 58 seconds remaining in the opening frame, netting her third goal of the season to send the game to the second with Tufts up 3-0. Karli Chapin scored a man-down goal for the Hawks at 11:19 to get RWU on the board, but a four-goal run for the Jumbos made the score 7-1 after a tally from Carden. RWU finished the scoring in the first half, as Julia Kelley tallied a man-down goal with 51 seconds left in the frame to make it 7-2 at the break.
Carden scored the first two goals of the second half to up Tufts' lead to 9-2, and
Ella Lesperance netted a beautiful quick-stick goal off a nice feed from
Allie Zorn to up Tufts' advantage to eight. Roger Williams scored three of the next four goals to pull to within six at 11-5, but
Kate Mastrobuono registered a beautiful goal with 5:39 left to finish the scoring.
Carden netted her three goals on seven shots, adding a ground ball, and Zorn finished with two goals and an assists. Lesperance tallied on both of her shots on goal, and Joyce dished out an assist in addition to her free position goal.
Caroline Walter,
Madeline Delaney and
Caroline Conaghan also all scored for the Jumbos, while Delaney added three ground balls and four draw controls.
Becca Gable led the team with two caused turnovers, picking up four loose balls, and Mary Grace Reynold added four ground balls and a caused turnovers.
Tufts got some strong play in net as well, as
Pascale de Buren made three saves in the first half to get the win.
Courtney Kaufman came off the bench to make seven stops in the second half for the Jumbos. RWU keeper Caroline Roach also stopped 12 shots on the day.
The Jumbos outshot Roger Williams 30-21 for the game, and picked up 11 free position attempts to just the two from RWU.
Mandy Beck scored twice in the loss for the Hawks, and Kyleigh Cavanaugh added a goal and four draw controls.
The Jumbos will take on No. 4 Washington & Lee University Saturday, March 18 at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, MD at 7 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
