NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team hung tough with No. 13 Williams College, but ultimately fell to the visiting Ephs 11-6 on Saturday afternoon from Silfen Field. With the loss, Conn falls to 5-4 on the season and 1-4 in conference play, while Williams improves to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference action.

Conn (5-4, 1-4 NESCAC) opened the scoring early, as Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) connected with Suzie Smith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) to put the Camels up 1-0 at 13:14. Williams (7-1, 3-1 NESCAC) responded just a minute later to tie the game at one. Both defenses settled in, before Conn went back in front on a free-position goal from Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) with just over two minutes to play. The Ephs got an answer with time winding down, as the game was tied at two after one.

Williams offense was strong in the second quarter, using a 6-0 run in the frame to open up a 8-2 lead with four minutes left in the half. Conn ended the Williams run with a tally from Emma Ognibene (New Canaan, Conn.) at 3:26. Caroline Brune (Acton, Mass.) found Janet Howard (Madison, Conn.) for another Camels marker, as Conn trailed Williams 8-4 at the break.

Conn continued their run to start the third quarter, as Downey found the back of the net at 11:53 to cut the deficit to three. With just under five minutes left in the frame, Downey found Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) as the deficit was cut to two. The Camels had a chance to cut the lead to one with just over a minute remaining, but Johnston's free-position shot was stopped.

Williams pushed the lead to three with a later goal in the third quarter, as the Ephs led 9-6 heading to the fourth. Conn had chances early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit again, but the Camels were unable to find the back of the net. Williams added two goals in the final six minutes to come away with the 11-6 win.

Conn outshot Williams 22-20, while the Ephs controlled 14 of 20 draws.

Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in goal, finishing with seven saves. Downey paced the Camels with three points on one goal and two assists. Six other Camels added one point, with Coughlin, Howard, Johnston, Ognibene, and Smith all adding a goal.

Conn scooped up 18 ground balls, with Brooke McKenna (Ridgewood, N.J.) collecting four. The Camels caused 11 turnovers, with three caused by Johnston and two caused by Howard and Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.). Conn was 17-19 on clear attempts, while Downey controlled two draws.

Anj Raman got the win in goal, finishing with three saves in the first half, while Caroline Pratt made nine saves in the second half. Franny Donohue paced the Ephs with three goals, while Cece Tauber and Claudia Russell both added two.

Conn heads back out on the road on Wednesday to take on Trinity at 6:00 p.m. in Hartford, Conn.