Teams: Women's Lacrosse: Press Releases

Thursday, May 21, 2009

FIVE JUMBOS SELECTED TO IWLCA/US LACROSSE ALL-REGION TEAMS

Junior Alyssa Kopp emerged as one of the region's top players this spring

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University women's lacrosse team, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round this season, has five players who were named to the 2009 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division 3 All-Region Teams today.

For the Pilgrim Region, senior midfielder Chrissie Attura (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth), junior defender Alyssa Kopp (Hollis, NH) and sophomore attack Amanda Roberts (Wenham, MA) represent Tufts on the First Team. The Second Team Jumbos included junior attack Emily Johnson (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) and senior midfielder Courtney Thomas (Needham, MA/Needham).

The All-Region selection is the second for Attura, Roberts and Thomas. Attura and Roberts were on the second team for 2008, while Thomas was a second team honoree in 2007. Kopp and Johnson are recognized for the first time. All five Jumbos are now eligible for inclusion on the 2009 IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-American teams, which will be announced tomorrow.

With a Tufts-record 38 assists this season, Attura tied for 21st in the country with an average of 2.0 per game. Her six assists against Babson on March 17 tied a Tufts single-game record. She finished second on the team with 58 points, including 20 goals. Kopp was a stand-out on draw controls and defense for Coach Carol Rappoli's team. She tied for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) lead with 43 draw controls this spring and caused 1.68 turnovers per game, which was ranked among the national top 75. She also had 2.89 ground balls per game. With 52 goals scored, Roberts was second in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) this spring. She was also very responsible defensively, averaging 1.26 caused turnovers per game.

Johnson's 45 goals were sixth in NESCAC and include five that were scored in the team's 22-15 NCAA Tournament-opening win over Drew University on May 6. Thomas was the team's ground balls leader with 58, a total that also led the league. She racked up 32 goals and 15 assists for 47 points.

The Jumbos set a school record for victories with 16 this season and were ranked eighth in the most recent IWLCA national poll. They finished first in the conference for the regular season. With five players on the All-Region teams, Tufts tied for the third most in the Pilgrim Region.

►2009 IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-Region Teams

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