NEW LONDON, Conn. - Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) recorded seven points to lead the Connecticut College women's lacrosse team past visiting Western Connecticut State 15-8 on Wednesday night from Silfen Field. With the win, Conn improves to 5-3 on the year, while West Conn falls to 4-4.
Conn (5-3) opened the scoring early as Johnston was awarded a free-position shot just a minute and a half in. Johnston took the opportunity and gave the Camels the 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) found the back of the cage, as Conn doubled the lead to 2-0. West Conn (4-4) responded just over a minute later, on a tally from Katelyn Contreras. Johnston converted at 6:33 to restore the two goal advantage, before Alexa Riggio cut it back to one at 3:30. With just over a minute and a half left in the quarter, Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) connected with Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) who made it 4-2. The Wolves tallied a late goal in the quarter, as Conn led 4-3 after one.
The second quarter was all Camels, as Conn opened up a 9-3 advantage. Janet Howard (Madison, Conn.) restored the two goal lead, off an assist from Johnston, before Howard converted on a free-position shot to make it 6-3. Bruce quickly made it 7-3, before Johnston and Bruce rounded out the scoring, as the Camels led 9-3 at the break.
Conn continued their run to start the third quarter, as Bruce and Johnston went back-to-back again, pushing the lead to 11-3. Midway through the frame, the Wolves got a goal back from Madison Ratchford, but the Camels lead 11-4 heading to the fourth.
West Conn scored early on a woman-up opportunity, but Suzie Smith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) converted on a free-position shot to make it 12-5 with 11:10 to play. In the span of two and a half minutes, both the Wolves and Camels scored two goals, as Conn led 14-7 with 5:17 to play. Downey pushed the lead to 15-7, before a late goal from the Wolves gave the Camels the 15-8 win.
Conn outshot West Conn 37-24, while controlling 16 of 27 draws.
Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in goal, finishing with eight saves. Johnston led the way with seven points on five goals and two assists, while Bruce notched five points on four goals and one assist, with Downey adding four points on three goals and one assist.
Conn scooped up 21 ground balls, with Coughlin collecting four and Downey corralling three. The Camels caused 11 turnovers, with three caused by Johnston and two caused by Caroline Barbieri (Longmeadow, Mass.) and Brogan Holbrough (Rochester, N.Y.). Conn was 15-16 on clear attempts, while Great Panke (Milldale, Conn.) controlled four draws, with Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) and Downey controlling three each.
Molly Bresnahan got the start in goal, finishing with 10 saves. Riggio paced the Wolves with three goals, while Contreras and Ratchford both added a goal and an assist.
Conn concludes their homestand on Saturday afternoon, as the Camels host No. 13 Williams College at 1:00 p.m. on Silfen Field.
