Teams: Women's Lacrosse: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS OPEN WITH IMPRESSIVE 11-9 VICTORY AT #10 AMHERST

COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 11, Amherst 9

At Amherst, MA
Saturday, March 7, 2009

Game Box Score

Senior co-captain Chrissue Attura assisted on four goals in Tufts' win over Amherst

AMHERST -- The 17th ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team opened teh 2009 season in fine fashion, defeating #10 Amherst College 11-9 on the road Saturday. Amherst was an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinalist last season.

First-year Lara Kozin (Suffern, NY) scored three goals with an assist in her Tufts debut. Senior co-captain Chrissie Attura (Yarmouth, ME) had four assists and one goal, while junior Emily Johnson (Yarmouth, ME) finished with three assists and a goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Sara Bloom (Summit, NJ) made 13 saves.

Tufts led 8-3 at the half. Kozin, first-year Stephanie Perez (East Providence, RI) and sophomore Amanda Roberts (Wenham, MA) all had a pair of goals for the visitors in the first 30 minutes. However, the host Lord Jeffs received six second-half goals from senior quad-captain Amy Craig (Denver, CO) in a valiant comeback effort. Ultimately, Tufts scored a trio of goals in the second half to pull out an 11-9 win.

Early in the first half, Tufts opened the scoring with a goal from Courtney Thomas (Needham, MA) off a feed from Johnson. Amherst responded to take a 2-1 lead on quick goals from sophomore Kelley Trapp (Monterey, CA) and senior Mary Noonan (West Roxbury, MA). Thomas needed just 11 seconds after Noonan's score to equalize at 2-2, with 24:24 remaining in the first half.

Noonan would score Amherst's only other goal of the first half on an assist from classmate, and fellow quad-captain, Caki Guinee (Owings Mills, MD) with 21:37 remaining. From there, the Jumbos rattled off a streak of six straight goals to finish the first half leading 8-3. During the scoring spurt, Kozin scored two goals and dished out an assist, while Attura added a goal and two helpers.

Amherst responded with Craig stepping up. The senior leader scored three goals on her first three shots of the second half, closing the gap to 8-6 with 18:29 to play in the second half.

Nearly three minutes went by, then Kozin scored her third and final goal of the day off a feed from junior Jenna Abelli (Framingham, MA) with 15:37 to play. The Jumbos scored the eventual game-winner just 41 seconds later, as Johnson beat Amherst rookie goalie Lamia Harik (Rye Brook, NY).

In the final 13 minutes of the game, Craig added another trio of goals, including the game's only free-position goal in the final minute. Despite the great second half from Craig helping Amherst out-score Tufts 6-3 in the frame, the Jumbos held on for the 11-9 win.

Amherst's Caroline Burke (Brookline, MA) started the game in net, making three saves in the first half, before giving way to Harik, who finished with a pair of stops in the second half.

The Lord Jeffs dropped their season opener for the first time since 1998, while Tufts improves to 1-0 in both the NESCAC and overall.

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