WATERVILLE, Maine - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse headed to Maine for their first conference road game, falling to host No. 7/11 Colby College 17-6 from Bill Alfond Field. With the loss, Conn falls to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while Colby improves to 2-0 and 2-0 in conference action.
The teams traded possessions in the opening four minutes, before Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) drew a free-position shot at 10:58. Gill converted the opportunity as Conn (1-2, 0-2 NESCAC) led 1-0. Colby (2-0, 2-0 NESCAC) got their own free-position shot at 9:36 and Stella Regan tied the game at one. Just six seconds later however, after a green card on Colby, Gill found Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) down by the goal line, who found the back of the net to make it 2-1 Camels. However, the Mules scored the final five goals of the quarter to lead 6-2 after one.
Conn ended the Colby run just under two minutes into the second quarter, as Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 6-3. The Mules answered with four goals in just over four minutes to extend the lead to 10-3 with 4:14 left. Late in the quarter Gill picked up her second goal of the contest, as Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) notched the assist, but with four seconds left, Colby extended the lead, to take an 11-4 advantage into the half.
Colby started the second half quickly, pushing the lead to 12-4 at 14:21. At 12:18 Johnston drew a free-position shot, connecting, before a goal 14 seconds later from Gill, cut the Mules lead to 12-6. The Camels' run stretched to three straight goals, as Downey found the back of the net at 9:51. Colby ended the run at 5:12 on a free-position goal, pushing the lead to 13-7. The Mules scored three more goals to lead 16-7 heading to the first quarter.
The Camels opened the fourth quarter strong with two goals in the first two minutes, as Downey and Julianna Ingrassia (Garden City, N.Y.) found the back of the net, making it 16-9. Both defenses locked the other down, as neither side was able to find the cage. Colby added one more goal at 6:13 to come away with the 17-9 victory.
Colby outshot Conn 42-18 while controlling 16 of 29 draws.
Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in goal, finishing with 14 saves. Gill paced the Camels with four points on three goals and one assist, while Downey notched two goals and one assist, with Johnston adding two goals. Conn picked up 15 ground balls, with Downey picking up three and Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) both collecting three. The Camels caused six turnovers as a team, with Eliza Shamah (Acton, Mass.) leading the way causing five, while also controlling 13 draws, with Weber controlling four, while Ingrassia and Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) controlled three.
Sarah Hearns got the start in net, making four saves in 51 minutes of action before being replaced by Gigi Peloso who made no saves. Tate Ban led Colby with five points on one goal and four assists, while three other Mules added four points.
Conn continues their road trip on Tuesday afternoon, taking on the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a neutral site game from the US Lacrosse Complex in Sparks, Md. at 12:00 p.m.
