NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse opened the 2024 season, falling to No. 4 Tufts University 17-4 on Saturday afternoon from Silfen Field. With the loss Conn starts the season 0-1 overall and 0-1 in NESCAC play, while Tufts starts 1-0 and 1-0 in conference play.

Tufts (1-0, 1-0 NESCAC) started quickly, opening the scoring just 47 seconds in on a goal from Kate Deehan. The Jumbos pushed the lead to 4-0 before Conn (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC) got on the board. Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) found a cutting Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) who fired it home to make it 4-1 at 8:30. Tufts added a goal from Emma Joyce at 5:38 to lead 5-1 after one. The Jumbos continued their run in the second quarter, scoring all 6 goals in the frame, to take an 11-1 lead at the half.

Tufts pushed the lead to 13-1 early in the third quarter, before the Camels got back on the scoresheet. Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) hooked up with Emma Ognibene (New Canann, Conn.) at 8:03 to make it 13-2. The Jumbos added another goal, before Downey found Ognibene to make it 14-3 heading to the fourth quarter. Ognibene completed her hat trick at 12:57 to cut the deficit to 14-4. However, the Jumbos tallied the final three goals, to come away with the 17-4 win.

Violette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in goal, finishing with 12 saves. Ognibene led the way with three goals, while adding four shots on goal, with Downey adding a goal and an assist, and Gill and Panke both recording one assist. The Camels picked up 15 ground balls, with three coming from Downey and two from Caroline Barbieri (Longmeadow, Mass.). Conn controlled 10 of 24 draws, with Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) and Eliza Ritter (Glen Head, N.Y.) each controlling two. The Camels also caused three turnovers with one each from Ritter, Nidds, and Eliza Shamah (Acton, Mass.).

Pascale de Buran got the win in the cage, making five saves in the quarters, while Sophie Powless made one save in the fourth quarter. Ella Lesperance led the Jumbos with five points on two goals and three assists, while Joyce recorded four goals. Tufts controlled 14 draws while causing three turnovers.

Conn returns to action on Wednesday night, as the Camels travel to Northampton, Mass. to take on Smith College at 7:00 p.m.