Middlebury, VT - The Mules travelled to Middlebury College for the final weekend of NESCAC play.  Saturday brought semifinals in which Colby played Tufts University.  In the first game of the season, Colby beat Tufts 9-4 in a hard-fought battle.  Tufts is traditionally a top-ranked team, and finished the season third in the NESCAC and in the top ten in the nation.  Colby went in as second seed in the NESCAC and ranked third in the nation for Division III.  Despite a 10-7 loss to Tufts in the semifinals, the Mules will look for a bid into the national tournament based on their consistent and excellent performance all season.

The entire game, each team was at each other's heels.  The first half finished with Tufts up 5-4.  Ally Franz scored two of the four goals in the first half, the first of which was unassisted from behind the net.  Franz scored the second goal for the team, also unassisted on a a rebound off the Tufts' keeper.  The third goal for Colby was scored by junior Gianna Bruno off of a free position shot from the center hash to make the score 4-3, Tufts still in the lead.  The final goal for Colby in the first half was scored by first year Julia Jardina on an assist from senior Eliza Dean on a fast break and a quick stick from Jardina.  Defensively, in the first half senior keeper Emily Podgorni had seven saves, nine successful clears as a team, and had a total of 13 groundballs through the whole game.

In the third quarter were in the lead 7-6.  With so few goals scored it was very clear that this game would come down to the defensive unit's ability to prevent the shot.  Just forty seconds into the quarter, Franz made her third goal and just minutes later, senior Grace Toner scored on an a quick stick assist from Bruno who was low behind the net.  This goal was made on a man-up opportunity while Tufts served a penalty.  Franz then scored her fourth and final goal of the game with just over a minute left in the third quarter with another assist from Bruno from behind the net.  It came down to the fourth quarter in which it would be a showdown of the defensive units.  Each made pivotal moments in the flow of the game thus far, but Tufts defense gave the opportunity for their attack to score four unanswered goals against Colby.  Colby was not without opportunity during this game.  The Mules had seven caused turnovers to create more opportunity for the attack.  Additionally, the Mules successfully got 13 groundballs which alllowed for more opportunities from 50/50 balls.

Overall the Mules played an excellent game of lacrosse to finish the NESCAC season.  It is possible the Mules receive a bid into the NCAA Division III tournament and will continue to challenge division III opponents across the country.  Colby has had a very successful season with multiple athletes being named to All-NESCAC teams.  Senior Sarah Stark on defense and junior Gianna Bruno were named NESCAC First-Team.  For NESCAC Second-Team, senior Emily Podgorni as keeper, senior Eliza Dean on midfield, and juniors Annie Eddy and Elizabeth Hennessey on attack were awarded the honor for their hard work.