Tufts Women's Lacrosse Storms to 23-5 Win over Castleton in Season Opener

MEDFORD - Senior tri-captain Brigid Bowser scored six goals to lead the #10 Tufts women's lacrosse team to a dominating 23-5 win over Castleton in the Jumbos' 2016 season opener Monday night under the lights at Bello Field.

Sophomore Taylor Meek tallied three goals and three assists

Senior tri-captain Caroline Ross finished with five goals and three assists for eight points as 11 Jumbos overall scored points.

Sophomore Taylor Meek recorded three goals and three assists for Tufts.

Castleton (1-1) was led by a goal and an assist from junior Tiffany Danyow. Junior Grace Johnson, senior Brandi Whittemore, and senior Maria Ploof also scored for the Spartans. Senior Meghan Els was busy in goal making 10 saves.

The teams traded goals early as Tufts freshman Cecily Freliech scored 1:13 into the game. Whittemore converted a free-position shot for Castleton and the score was 1-1 early. However, the Jumbos would score the next 12 goals to force a running clock over the final 38-plus minutes of action.

McKay scored for Castleton at 4:48 of the first half and the Jumbos led 15-2 at the break. Shots were 30-4 Jumbos after the first 30 minutes. The hosts earned 12 out of 15 draw controls in the opening half and controlled possession. Els made seven first-half saves for Castleton.

Tufts was able to empty its bench in the second half with Dakota Adamec and Annie Sullivan joining Freliech and Megan Toner as freshmen who scored their first collegiate goals for Tufts tonight.

Ploof had the first goal of the second half for the Spartans while Danyow scored unassisted and set up Johnson's goal in the seocnd half.

Freshman Audrey Evers made her first collegiate start in goal for Tufts and made three saves in 54:15 of action. Junior newcomer Ruth Barry played the final 5:45 and picked up two ground balls.

Fifteen different Jumbos controlled draws tonight led by four from Adamec. The Jumbos had 22 draw controls compared to five for the Spartans. Ross had three of Tufts' eight caused turnovers and Bowser led with three groundballs. Junior Kate Mackin, Sullivan, and Freliech all scored twice for Tufts.

Danyow added two caused turnovers and two groundballs for Castleton. Sophomore Nadine Downing won two draws.

Tufts is home again on Wednesday night at Bello versus MIT in a 7 pm start. Castleton hosts Western New England on Thursday at 4.