HARTFORD, Conn. - Gianna Bruno had two goals and four assists to lead the visiting Colby College Mules to an 11-9 win over the Trinity College Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's lacrosse action this afternoon on Sheppard Field.  No. 17-ranked Trinity falls to 8-6 overall and 4-5 in the NESCAC, having lost three conference games in a row by a total of four points in the last 10 days.  The Mules, ranked No. 4 nationally, improve to 12-2 overall and 8-1 in the league.  Trinity closes the regular season at home against NESCAC rival Amherst, ranked No. 19 in the nation, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.  Colby finishes up on Wednesday at Bates at 7 p.m.

Senior attacker Christine Taylor (Westport, Conn.) gave Trinity a 2-0 lead early with back-to-back goals to start the game, but Bruno scored Colby's first and assisted Elizabeth Hennessey on their second moments later to tie the score, 2-2, at the 7:16 mark of the first quarter.  The Bantams took their final lead at 4-3 on a goal by sophomore midfielder Casey Ward (Norwell, Mass.) early in the second frame, but the Mules used a 4-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 7-4 at halftime.  Grace Toner had a goal and an assist during the Colby run.

Ward and junior attacker Lily Ives (Chappaqua, N.Y;) scored in the third quarter for the Bantams to keep it close before sophomore attacker Caroline Lampert (Wayland, Mass.) and Ives scored consecutive goals just 23 seconds apart to tie it back up at 9-all with 4:02 left to play. Ward won the ensuing draw, but Colby goalie Emily Podgoni saved a low Taylor shot as the shot clock ran down to give the ball to the visitors.  Cami McDonald scored the game-winner for Colby off a feed by Ainsley Dion.  The Mules won the last two draws to keep Trinity from getting a chance to tie and Annie Eddy scored a Colby insurance goal late.

Trinity outshot Colby, 31-21, forced 13 turnovers while committing just seven, and finished with a 13-to-6 advantage on ground balls, but the Mules won 14 of the game's 24 draws including seven controls by Eliza Dean.  Bantam senior tri-captain goalkeeper Gabriella Young had five saves and Podgoni made seven stops.  Senior tri-captain Samantha Boome (Marblehead, Mass.) filled up the stat sheet with four ground balls, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers, while junior Elle Fair (Westport Conn.) added three ground balls and three CT's.  Taylor and Ives had hat tricks, while Ward collected two goals to go with four draw controls.  Four Mules scored twice and eight of their goals were assisted.