The top-seeded/#1 Middlebury women's lacrosse team (17-1) suffered its first loss of the season, coming up just short in the NESCAC Championship on Sunday. Third-seeded/#9 Tufts (15-3) outlasted the Panthers to claim its second-straight title with a 9-8 triumph. Middlebury had not lost a game since the 2019 season, capping its winning-streak at 42-consecutive victories, with 22 of those coming on Kohn Field. The Jumbos earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the Panthers wait to hear their fate when the field is announced on Monday morning.
 
Tufts wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, tallying three-straight goals to start the game. Genna Gibbons struck with just 1:14 expired when she ran around the goal and lifted the ball over the left shoulder of Middlebury goalie Gina Driscoll. With just under 10 minutes remaining in the quarter, Margie Carden converted a free-position attempt while a player up. Carden tallied another goal with 7:44 showing on the clock when she tucked the ball inside the right pipe for the 3-0 advantage. Panther Erin Nicholas had a great chance to score at the 6:31 mark, but her bouncing attempt hit the bottom of the crossbar and ricocheted back into play. Middlebury broke through with 2:31 left when Niki Mormile finagled a shot sandwiched between a pair of Jumbo defenders, cutting the deficit to 3-1 after one stanza of action.
 
The Panthers came out strong in the second quarter, but Tufts' goalie Molly Laliberty denied three quality chances before the hosts broke through. Grace Getman and Mormile each tallied a free-position marker in the final 10 minutes, knotting the game at 3-3 heading into halftime break. 
 
With 2:12 elapsed in the third frame, Anna Clarke slipped the ball inside the left pipe, giving the Jumbos a 4-3 edge. Middlebury responded when Hope Shue worked around several defenders before burying the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 4-4. Carden completed a hat trick for Tufts while a player up with just under 10 minutes to go, but the Panthers answered to tie the game at five goals apiece. Susan Rowley scooped up a groundball after a caused turnover in the defensive end by Erica Barr and sprinted downfield. Rowley tossed the ball to Anna Spehr who had a nifty give-and-go with Kelcey Dion, before finding the back of the net to make it 5-5 heading into the final quarter. 
 
The Jumbos scored three-straight markers to start the fourth frame, which ultimately proved to be the difference. Clarke tallied a quick-stick goal to get things going, Carden recorded her fourth of the game and Caroline Walter scooped up a loose ball and scored to give Tufts an 8-5 lead. Middlebury answered with a pair of quick goals with just under 11 minutes remaining to make it a one-goal game (8-7). Shue scored with a low, sidearm shot, before the crowd erupted to its feet when Nicholas converted a free-position marker. Carden tallied a quick-stick goal with 3:19 left, giving the Jumbos a two-goal cushion (9-7). Getman got Middlebury back within one (9-8) with just under three minutes to go on a dish from Dion. The Panthers had a pair of free-position attempts in the final minute, but both were blocked by Tufts' defenders to secure the 9-8 triumph for the Jumbos.
 
Driscoll suffered the loss in goal, making six saves during the contest. Laliberty made nine stops to preserve the victory for the Jumbos.
 
Middlebury's Dion, Getman, Mormile and Shue each had a pair of points during the game. Barr led all players with three groundballs and four caused turnovers.
 
Carden paced all players with five goals, while Clarke had a pair of markers and a game-high five draw controls for Tufts.