Wesleyan’s Comeback Efforts Fall Short as No. 7 Tufts Rallies Late to Win, 12-7

Recap courtesy of Wesleyan University, Photo by Jonas Powell '18

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The 14th-ranked Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team rallied from an early five-goal deficit to tie the game at 7-7 with 13:30 remaining in regulation, but No. 7 Tufts University scored five unanswered goals down the stretch to seal a 12-7 win at Smith Field Saturday afternoon.

Abby Manning '20 and Johanna Copeland '21 led the Cardinals (7-4, 3-3 NESCAC) with two goals each, while Sydney Prokupek '21 tallied two points on one goal and one assist. Dakota Adamec was impressive for the Jumbos (9-1, 6-0 NESCAC) as she tallied seven points on six goals and one assist.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Tufts got on the board first and despite being down a player, Adamec placed a free position shot into the bottom right corner of the net at the 21:01 mark.
• Just over a minute later, Wesleyan took advantage of the player-up opportunity as Prokupek cut through the middle of the defense and sent one past the Tufts goalkeeper to even the score.
• Adamec and the Jumbos rallied and scored five unanswered goals from 17:02-to-5:50 to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Adamec scored three straight to start the run while Catherine Lawliss capped it off with a free position goal.
• Despite the momentum in Tufts' favor, Wesleyan responded nicely and went on a run of its own to end the half. The Cardinals scored three goals in the final 4:42 to cut the deficit to two, 6-4, at the break.
• Wesleyan's hot streak continued early in the second half when Prokupek found Copeland for her first career goal at the 26:39 mark to get within one.
• After a Tufts goal from Maddie Norman increased the visitors' lead back to two, the Cardinals scored back-to-back goals shortly after to even the score. Manning scored her second of the game at the 19:07 mark and Copeland scored off a free position shot to tie the game at 7-7 with 13:30 to play.
• Less than six minutes later, Annie Sullivan scored what proved to be the game-winner before the Jumbos tallied four more goals down the stretch to put the game away.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Five Cardinals factored into Wesleyan's scoring while Jordan Ansell '21, Amy Breitfeller '19 and Julia Gretsky '20 each had three ground balls. Breitfeller caused four turnovers as well and Allegra Grant '20 made nine saves in net.
• Emily Games scored twice and Sullivan scored a goal and added an assist for the Jumbos. In all, six players were involved in Tufts' 12 goals. In addition to seven points, Adamec also led all players with six draw controls and Norman posted a team-high four caused turnovers. Goalie Audrey Evers stopped 7-of-14 shots.
• Tufts held a commanding 17-3 edge in draw controls.
• Despite the loss, Wesleyan held the NESCAC's top goal-scoring team to four below its average.

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they return to Smith Field Tuesday, April 10 for another top-10 NESCAC matchup against No. 8 Trinity. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.