Tufts Women's Lacrosse Jumps Out Early, Earns 9-5 NESCAC Win Over Williams

MEDFORD - The #16 Tufts women's lacrosse team scored the first six goals of the game, all by different players, and went on to a 9-5 NESCAC win over Williams College Wednesday night at Bello Field.

Caroline Nowak won four draws and scoared a goal

Caroline Nowak, Caroline Ross, Taylor Meek, Megan Toner, Dakota Adamec, and Brigid Bowser scored in succession giving Tufts a six-goal lead at 3:15 of the first half. Ross and Meek's goals were just 22 seconds apart at 20:38 and 20:06. Ross assisted twice during the run.

Williams didn't score its first goal until 1:14 of the period by senior Micaela on a free-position shot. However, the Jumbos answered as Bowser tallied again with 59 seconds on the clock putting teh hosts up 7-1 at halftime.

The Jumbos would push their lead to 9-1 as Ross and Adamec each scored their second goals of the game to start the second-half. The Ephs would score four times in the final 15 minutes, including three by junior Jenna Chodos, but time ran out on any thoughts of a comeback.

Tufts bounced back from a 14-13 NESCAC loss at Connecticut College on Saturday with tonight's win. They improve to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in NESCAC. Williams lost for the third time in four games, dropping to 4-5 and 2-3 in the league.

Bowser added four caused turnovers, three draw controls, and three groundballs to her two goals for
Tufts. Ross had a four-point game to lead all scorers. Adamec's two goals were her first strikes since returning from an injury that caused her to miss four games.

The Jumbos won six out of nine draw controls in the first half when they were able to take a big lead. Draws finished at 8-8, with Nowak taking a game-high four.

Freshman Audrey Evers was strong in goal for the Jumbos, making 11 saves while allowing just five goals for a .687 save percentage. The five goals were the fewest Tufts has allowed in a conference game since a 7-5 win over Wesleyan on April 19, 2014.

Junior Margaret Draper made 11 saves in the Williams net, including seven in the second half when the Ephs outscored the Jumbos 4-2. Sophomore Kate Pattison had three groundballs defensively for Williams. Chodos earned two draw controls and caused a turnover along with scoring the three goals. Dussel finished with a goal and an assist.

Tufts remains at home to face Hamilton College in a NESCAC game on Saturday at noon. The Ephs started a four-game road swing tonight and will be at Wesleyan for conference action on Saturday at noon.