MEDFORD, Mass. -- Margie Carden scored six goals and added an assist as the No. 10 nationally ranked Tufts University Jumbos defeated the Bates women's lacrosse team 18-5 in NESCAC action Wednesday evening.
The Jumbos (8-3, 4-3 NESCAC) led 6-0 just 10 minutes into the game. Anna Clarke scored a pair of free-position goals early, Mae Briody assisted Kathryn Delaney and scored one of her own, and Carden added two to comprise the opening run for Tufts. Bates junior Shelby Howard (Ashland, Mass.) broke up the streak for Bates making it a 6-1 game at the end of one.
Carden then had the first of the second quarter, giving her four in 19 minutes of play, for an 8-1 Jumbo lead. Senior Jordyn Tveter (Topsfield, Mass.) netted a goal for Bates at 4:48, but Tufts scored three times in the final 47 seconds to lead 11-2 at the half. Ella Lesperance tallied with 47 seconds on the clock, Carden with 12 seconds remaining, and then a fast-break goal by Madeline Delaney after a draw control came with three seconds left.
Senior captain Dana Swartz (North Andover, Mass.) scored the first goal of the second half for Bates 52 seconds in, but then goals by Lesperance and Madeline Delaney put the game in running time with 13:12 on the third-quarter clock and the Jumbos leading 13-3. They finished out the period with three more - Carden, Lesperance, and Clarke - for a 16-3 lead through three quarters.
Bates (3-8, 1-7 NESCAC) kept working and got the first two of the fourth, Tveter on a free-position shot and sophomore Hanna Matthews (Westwood, Mass.) assisted by Swartz. Tufts finished off the game with goals by Lesperance and Alexa Amorosino, assisted by Caroline Cromwell.
Lesperance finished with four goals and Clarke had three for the Jumbos. Clarke added six draw controls while Madeline Delaney had four. Maddy Lehan and Kat Fernandopulle both had three ground balls and goalie Molly Laliberty made eight saves.
First-year Avery Lehman (Pottstown, Pa.) got the start in goal for Bates and stopped 13 shots. Tveter won five draws and caused a turnover.
The Jumbos had a 37-14 advantage in shots and 18-12 in ground balls.
Bates is back in action Saturday when the Bobcats take on Connecticut College at the United States Coast Guard Academy. The game gets underway at 4pm.
