MEDFORD, MA (March 27, 2025) -- The No. 2 Tufts University women's lacrosse team outscored visiting MIT 6-0 in the opening quarter, cruising past visiting MIT 19-3 in non-conference action from Bello Field Thursday afternoon.
Tufts (8-0) dominated in the opening frame as the Jumbos outshot MIT 15-3 in the first frame while posting a 6-1 edge in draw controls. All of that possession would benefit the hosts, as graduate student
Emma Joyce got the Jumbos on the board just 46 seconds into the game with her 14th of the season. Junior
Allie Zorn would score twice in the opening period, including a behind-the-back goal, while
Margie Carden's first of the game made it 6-0 going to the second frame.
MIT (3-5) stopped the 8-0 run for Tufts to start the game with 8:50 left in the period, but Carden's free-position goal with 8:32 to play in the first half started another three-goal stretch before halftime to make it 11-1 at the break. The Jumbos posted a 31-8 shot advantage in the first half, forcing the Engineers into eight turnovers.
The third quarter started like the first quarter, as Tufts posted five unanswered goals including the 100th goal of the career for senior
Ella Lesperance with 10:45 to go in regulation to make it 12-1. First-year
Anna Mollahan would also get in on the action, as her second of the season sent the game to the fourth quarter with Tufts up 16-1.
In the fourth frame, Tufts got the first of the season from three players, as
Maddy Charest,
Magdalena Rieper and
Sadie Dodson put a bow on the win.
The Jumbos finished with a 47-17 shot advantage, while tallying a 28-7 edge with shots on goal. Tufts also earned an 18-8 lead in draw controls, thanks to 10 from senior
Genna Gibbons.
Zorn finished with four points on three goals and an assist, while Lesperance and Carden each had two goals, an assist and a caused turnover in the victory.
Caroline Conaghan scored twice and assisted on another, and senior
Kate Mastrobuono recorded two assists and scored once. First-year
Neta Leschly had a strong overall game with a goal, three caused turnovers and a ground ball, and
Sophia Claps netted a pair of scores as well.
First-year
Annie Bergeron had two helpers and a caused turnover, while senior All-American defender
Kathryn Fernandopulle made her season debut and caused three Engineer turnovers while scooping up three loose balls. Junior defender
Nicola Donlan had three ground balls in the win, and
Madeline Delaney finished with a goal, three draw wins and a grounder.
In net,
Pascale de Buren allowed just one score in 38:32 of play, making six saves to continue the strong play for her in-between the pipes. First-year
Devon Chipman stopped one shot and picked up two ground balls, and sophomore
Sophie Powless also made one save for Tufts.
Sydney Pyon had two points on a goal and assist for the Engineers.
Tufts will now set its sights on a big New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) game on Saturday, March 29, taking on No. 5 Colby College at 1 p.m. on Bello Field in Medford, MA.
