Women’s lacrosse win and lose out of conference matchups after Tufts upset
In a week of out-of-conference matchups, Colby Women’s Lacrosse fell to Roger Williams last Wednesday at home, before traveling to Plymouth State for a comfortable victory this past Sunday.
The Mules kicked the 2022 campaign off strong with a statement 9-4 win over Tufts on March 5. Starting the season ranked at No. 2, the Jumbos have dominated both the Mules and conference standings in previous seasons; The Mules, however, established themselves this time around.
Goalie Emily Podgorni ’22 earned herself a standout individual performance with 15 saves, tying her career-high and earning herself NESCAC Player of the Week Honors as well as Intercollegiate Women’s College Lacrosse Association Defensive Player of the Week Honors for all of Division III lacrosse.
Coming off the compelling win over Tufts, the Mules hosted the Hawks from Roger Williams University at home for a Wednesday afternoon matchup.
After controlling the draw to start the first score, Roger Williams scored on the first possession to earn themselves the lead early in the game. The Hawks would continue to pressure the Mules’ defense, putting a second score on the board three minutes later. Podgorni was able to stop a free-position shot, but the Hawks continued to score three more times, establishing a 5-0 lead with Colby yet to produce a response.
Eliza Dean ’22 earned herself a draw-control after the fifth score, interrupting the Hawks’ momentum and setting up a scoring play finished by Annie Eddy ’23, with the assist going to Gianna Bruno ’23.
With the score at 5-1, the Mules managed to follow up with two more goals. Grace Toner ’22 scored the first of the two off Kins Helmer’s ’25 first career point and assist, and Elizabeth Hennessy ’23 buried the free-position shot to make it 5-3 going into the second quarter.
Three minutes into the second quarter, Julia Jardina ’25, who delivered a hat-trick against Tufts in her first career performance, brought the deficit down to one with a score. That 5-4 scoreline would be the closest the Mules came to a positive result that afternoon, with the Hawks responding with two goals to make it 7-4. Hallie Schwartzman ’22 found the back of the net to end the quarter at 7-5.
The Mules offense looked to start the third quarter off with a forceful response, however, two turnovers cost them two scores to make it 9-5. With a larger margin, the two teams traded scores, ending the period at 11-8. Eddy, Hennessy, and Ali Gill ’24 provided the goals for the Mules.
To start off the fourth quarter, Colby looked to gather momentum for a comeback while the Hawks looked to continue dominating draws and forcing turnovers to keep the Mules under. Roger Williams scored early to make it 12-8, defending that scoreline for eight more minutes until Bruno buried a shot to make it 12-9 with four minutes to go.
Needing to dominate possession and score quickly, Bruno assisted Dean to make it 12-10 a minute later. However, The Hawks were able to snuff out any spark of a late comeback, scoring to finish the game on top at 13-10.
Looking to build upon the win over Tufts despite the out-of-conference setback, the Mules were originally set to host Williams on Saturday, but the game was postponed due to incoming weather.
Following the unexpected day off, the Mules traveled to Plymouth State for another out-of-conference matchup, looking to swing back in the win column. The Mules comfortably defeated Plymouth State two years ago, 17-1, and they certainly had a similar plan in mind this time around.
The Mules hit the ground running with a vengeance, scoring six consecutive to start the game before Plymouth State could even respond, ultimately finishing the game 19-5. Jardina, Cami McDonald ’24, and Eddy earned the lion’s share with four scores apiece, and Bruno, Dean, Tori Congdon ’24, Ally Franz ’24, and Chiamaka Ubani ’22 earning a slice of the action for themselves as well. Eddy, Toner, Bruno, Franz, and Kailey O’Neill ’23 provided the odd assists, with the bulk of Colby’s goals finding the back of the net unassisted.
Following a dominant display over Plymouth State overshadowing their setback to Roger Williams earlier in the week, the Mules prepare to travel to the University of New England this Tuesday.
~ Rohan Sinha '25
