Teams: Women's Lacrosse: Press Releases

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

THREE VOTED TO ALL-NESCAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE SECOND TEAM

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University women's lacrosse team enjoyed one of its better seasons in the last decade, finishing 10-5 overall. Spurring the squad throughout the season were three All-New England Small College Athletic Conference selections from each area of the field: senior attack Dena Miller (Denver, CO/East), junior midfielder Lauren Murphy (Hingham, MA/Hingham) and junior defender Jackie Thomas (Needham, MA/Needham).

Miller was selected All-Conference for the second year, including her sophomore year in 2004. She led the Jumbos in scoring with 39 goals and 14 assists for 53 points in 15 games, including 23 goals and seven assists for 30 points in nine NESCAC games. Entering the week, she was eighth in the NESCAC scoring race and tied for seventh with 2.6 goals per game. She scored five goals with two assists in a win over Connecticut College on April 15 and had the critical game-winner in an important 9-8 victory against Wesleyan on April 19. Miller finished her career with 118 goals and 47 assists for 165 points, eighth all-time at Tufts.

Murphy was a Second Team All-NESCAC pick last season. One of the best two-way players in the league, she finished '06 with 19 goals and a team-high 16 assists for 35 points. She also led the Jumbos with 29 draw controls, turned the ball over just six times all season and caused 19 turnovers. She had six ground balls, three draw controls and two assists in the win over Wesleyan. Her two goals and an assists helped the team's clutch 9-8 victory at Bowdoin April 4.

Thomas was a stalwart on defense who led the Jumbos with 33 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Tufts is one of five teams in NESCAC that has allowed less than 10 goals per game with their 9.93 goals against average. Thomas' great speed was key to the team's clears and transition game. She also contributed five goals and an assist in 15 starts. She caused four turnovers in the win at Bowdoin, had six ground balls against Colby and scored a goal against #6 in the nation Amherst.

The Jumbos were charging towards their first NCAA Tournament berth before they lost their last two games of the regular season to Amherst and #12 Williams, then lost a rematch to #7 Bowdoin in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament. Tufts' season finished with its most wins overall since 2001 and its most wins in the league (five) since NESCAC became a playing conference that same year.

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