THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 4 Tufts University 21, No. 21 MIT 9
 
- Records: MIT (2-1); Tufts (3-0)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: No. 4 Tufts University generated six unanswered goals late in the second quarter, helping it pull away as it went on to defeat No. 21 MIT, 21-9, in a non-conference women's lacrosse game on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Meredith Arterburn (Cooksville, Md.) and sophomore Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) both posted two goals and an assist for the Engineers while Ella Lesperance, Allie Zorn, and Margie Carden each tallied seven points for the Jumbos.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Zorn and Carden produced the first two goals of the game and then Flusche was a factor in MIT's next two goals. She earned an assist on a strike by junior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) with a player advantage and then she scored the equalizer with 6:26 on the clock. Tufts responded with goals from Zorn and Carden, the latter with a player advantage, to claim a 4-2 edge at the end of the frame.
 
- The Engineers cut their deficit in half just 40 seconds into the second quarter when sophomore Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) redirected a feed from Arterburn. The Jumbos responded with a 4-1 burst that moved the score to 8-4 following back-to-back free-position goals by Zorn. MIT narrowed the gap to 8-5 when Arterburn connected on a pass by junior Sydney Pyon (Garnet Valley, Pa.) at the 6:31 mark. This was as close as it would get as Tufts rattled off six straight goals, the first two by Carden and the last four by Lesperance. Playing down a player, sophomore Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.) found the back of the next with 12 seconds left, making the score 14-6 heading into halftime.
 
- The Engineers carried the momentum into the third quarter as Arterburn recorded an unassisted goal after 43 seconds elapsed. Carden responded with a goal that was set up by Lesperance, but a free-position shot by Gwen Flusche brought MIT within 15-8 with 9:15 on the clock. However, Tufts countered with three goals during the last 4:37 of the frame.
 
- The Jumbos outscored the Engineers, 3-1, in the fourth quarter to set up the 21-9 final score.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Julianne Flusche posted two goals while Gwen Flusche added five draw controls and two groundballs to her scoring performance. Pyon notched two caused turnovers as senior Katie Bell (Radnor, Pa.) recorded two draw controls.
 
- In net, sophomore Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) produced five saves, three groundballs, and one caused turnover in the first half. First-year Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) made three saves in the third quarter while first-year Ashton Flather (Ipswich, Mass.) totaled two saves and two groundballs during the fourth quarter.
 
- Carden tallied six goals and one assist as Lesperance finished with five goals and two assists. Zorn bolstered the offense with four goals and three assists while Emma Joyce registered four groundballs, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Madeline Delaney collected five draw controls as Emily Leschin contributed two groundballs and two draw controls.
 
- In net, Pascale de Buran turned away two shots in 45 minutes while Sophie Powless totaled two saves during the final 15 minutes of play.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams will have home games on Saturday, March 9. MIT will play Roger Williams University at 1:00 p.m. while Tufts will host NESCAC foe No. 13 Trinity College at 12:00 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.