MEDFORD, MA (April 5, 2025) -- The No. 2 Tufts University women's lacrosse team dominated the final 45 minutes against No. 6 Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon at Bello Field, cruising to a through 15-4 win over the Cardinals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play.
The Jumbos (11-0, 6-0 NESCAC) were honoring Madie Nicpon Saturday afternoon for Scooter's Game, paying tribute to the former women's lacrosse standout who tragically passed in the fall of 2021. A former defender, the Tufts defense would show up in her honor allowing just eight shots on goal while turning Wesleyan (6-4, 2-4 NESCAC) over 19 times on the game.
The Cardinals would get on the board first though in a rematch of last year's NESCAC semifinal, as Kiara Tangney scored her first of three goals for Wesleyan just 1:23 into the game to make it 1-0 for the visitors. Junior
Allie Zorn got Tufts on the board minutes later, and
Ella Lesperance scored her 20th of the season at 8:03 of the frame to put Tufts up 2-1.
Wesleyan evened the game at two at the 5:37 mark but senior attack
Caroline Conaghan, who was wearing No. 2 in Nicpon's honor, netted an unassisted score to give Tufts a 3-2 advantage to end the first period.
The momentum continued into the second quarter for the Jumbos, who scored the period's first four goals including two at the eight-meter arc to make it 7-2. A fluky goal pulled Wesleyan back to within four at 7-3, but Zorn struck again win the extra person to make it 8-3 at the break.
The Tufts defensive unit and draw control group would allow the Jumbos to pull away, as the hosts outscored Wesleyan 7-1 in the second half with an empty-net goal from
Elsa Schutt in the waning moments put the exclamation on a big win for Tufts.
The 11-0 start to the season marks the best start to a season since going 13-0 back in 1989, as the Jumbos were 13-0 in back-to-back seasons in 1988 and 1989. Tufts was 10-0 last season before falling to Wesleyan in Middletown, CT.
Zorn tallied a game-high four goals on six shots on goal, going 3-for-4 on free position shots, while
Ella Lesperance added two goals, a ground ball and a caused turnover. Schutt finished with two goals, three draw wins, a grounder and a caused turnover, while Conaghan had two scores as well.
Graduate student
Madeline Delaney record a goal, assist and eight draw controls Saturday in addition to three ground balls, while
Schuyler Lloyd had two points on an assist and goal as well as adding two ground balls.
The Jumbos also got two goals, six ground balls and three caused turnovers from
Emma Joyce, while
Margie Carden scored once to go with a caused turnover and two loose balls. Senior defender
Kathryn Fernandopulle had two caused mistakes and two ground balls, while
Genna Gibbons was a force defensively with five draw controls, four caused turnovers and a ground ball.
Senior
Pascale de Buren was strong as well, stopping six shots while surrendering just four goals. Tufts outshot their visitors 35-13 while going 15-for-17 on clear attempts and chalking up a 17-5 edge in draw controls.
Tangney scored all three goals for the Cardinals, and Izzy Weintraub had 12 stops between the pipes for Wesleyan.
Tufts will travel to Bates College Wednesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. for NESCAC play in Lewiston, Maine.
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