NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team returned home, battling No. 23 Williams, but ultimately falling short 14-8 on Saturday afternoon from Silfen Field.
Ava Virga (Watertown, N.Y.) had a strong start in goal, coming up with three saves in the opening four minutes, before Conn was able to open the scoring. The Camels broke the ice at 9:54 as Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) fired home to make it 1-0. Williams answered a minute and a half later, as Franny Donohue evened the score.
Conn jumped back in front at 6:39 as Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) made it 2-1. The Ephs evened the score on a tally from McKenna Dwyer, but Virga added four more saves as the game was tied at two after one.
The offenses picked up in the second quarter, as Williams tallied four goals in the first five and a half minutes to build a 6-2 advantage. Conn ended the run at 7:04 as Kate Sullivan (Westwood, Mass.) connected with Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) for a woman-up goal.
The teams traded the final three goals of the half, with the Ephs adding two more, while Victoria Evans (Sudbury, Mass.) fired home off an assist from Coughlin to cut the deficit to 8-4 at the break.
Johnston struck just 41 seconds into the third quarter, converting on a free-position shot to make it 8-5. The Ephs responded with three straight goals, to push the lead to 11-5. Conn did not go away quietly, tallying three of the final four goals in the quarter.
Johnston started the run at 5:22, before Sophia Virgilio (Brightwaters, N.Y.) notched a free-position goal. Gill ended the quarter with a marker at 1:38 to make it 12-8 heading to the fourth.
Williams wrapped up the scoring with the final two goals coming in the fourth quarter, as the Ephs came away with the 14-8 victory.
Williams outshot Conn 37-15, while holding a 17-7 edge on draw controls.
Virga was solid in the cage, finishing with a career-high 14 saves. Johnston led the attack with three goals, while Gill added two, with Coughlin chipping in a goal and an assist. Evans and Virgilio both notched a goal, while Sullivan tallied one assist as well.
Defensively, Conn scooped up 11 ground balls, with Talia Metz-Topodas (Berwyn, Pa.) scooping up three, while Anna Sawyer (Easthampton, Mass.) scooped up two. Both Evans and Suzie Smith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) controlled two draws.
Charlotte Cote got the win in goal, tallying five saves. Donohue led Williams with six goals, while four other Ephs' recorded multiple points.
Conn returns to action next week as the Camels travel to Waterville, Maine to take on Colby on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
