MIDDLEBURY, VT (May 4, 2024) -- No. 2 seed Wesleyan University netted the first six goals Saturday afternoon in the 2024 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinal, as the third-seed Tufts University women's lacrosse team fell 15-7 in action from Peter Kohn Field on the campus of Middlebury College.
Wesleyan (15-2) held the Jumbos off the board until the 12:03 mark of the second quarter when
Allie Zorn scored from
Ella Lesperance to stop the six-goal spurt by the Cardinals. Zorn's goal started a four-goal run by the Jumbos over the next four minutes capped by a
Caroline Conaghan score to make it 6-4.
After the game was 7-4 after the first 30 minutes, Wesleyan netted four of the first five goals out of the halftime intermission to make it 11-5. Tufts got as close at five at 11-6 following another tally from Conaghan, but Wesleyan potted four of the final five goals to earn their first NESCAC title game appearance.
Tufts (14-3) was outshot on the afternoon 32-17 by Wesleyan, while the Jumbos finished a perfect 14-for-14 on clearing attempts. The Jumbos won the draw control (14-12) and ground ball (13-10) battles on the night, but 17 turnovers on the day was the difference for Tufts
Sophomore
Kate Deehan finished with two goals and a draw control, while
Allie Zorn also tallied two goals and two ground balls. Senior
Madeline Delaney finished with a goal and three draw controls.
Sophomore
Elsa Schutt led the team with six draw controls, and junior defender
Kathryn Fernandopulle tacked up two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior
Nicola Sommers also posted two caused turnovers, and junior
Pascale de Buren stopped eight shots for the Jumbos.
Olivia Lai scored a game-high six goals on seven shots Saturday for Wesleyan, while Becca Dibble had three goals as well for the Cardinals in the win.
Tufts will now wait until 10:30 a.m. Monday for the release of the NCAA Tournament field, as the bracket is announced with a Selection Show on NCAA.com.
--JUMBOS--
