Teams: Women's Lacrosse: Press Releases

Monday, April 27, 2009

ROBERTS IS NESCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AS JUMBOS QUALIFY TO HOST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

MEDFORD -- Last week, the Tufts University women's lacrosse team earned the #1 seed into the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship with a 13-7 victory over Bowdoin on Friday, and then won their first-round game against #8 seed Amherst College 14-11 on Sunday. Sophomore Amanda Roberts (Wenham, MA/Phillips Exeter) scored eight goals in the two games to lead the Jumbos offensively and has been selected as the conference's Player of the Week.

Roberts was one of six Jumbos to score a pair of goals against Bowdoin. The victory made Tufts (14-1, 8-1 NESCAC) the first team in the conference other than Middlebury College to earn the #1 seed in the nine-year history of the tournament. The Jumbos trailed 3-0 and 4-1 early in the game. Roberts scored consecutively at 10:20 and 6:04 of the first half to tie the game at 4-4. She also finished with three draw controls.

Against Amherst, the Jumbos were down early again, trailing 5-4 at the half. Roberts scored five of her game-high six goals in the second half. She started and finished a five-goal run at the beginning of the second half that put Tufts up 9-5. The Lord Jeffs twice closed to within two goals in the second half, but Roberts scored three goals in the final 11 minutes to help the Jumbos stay in front. The six goals matched a career high and she also caused three turnovers and had three ground balls, both team-highs. The '09 team set a new record for wins in a season.

The eight-goal week gave Roberts 40 for the year, currently sixth in the league. She's tied for sixth in overall scoring with 52 points on 40 goals and 12 assists.

An All-NESCAC second team selection last year, Roberts receives the NESCAC award for the second time in her career. She was the pick on April 7 last season. Roberts is the team's second P.O.T.W. this season after sophomore goalie Sara Bloom (Summit, NJ/Summit) was named two weeks ago.

Tufts, ranked seventh nationally, welcomes Colby College, Middlebury College and Williams College for the NESCAC semi-finals and championship game on Saturday and Sunday (May 2-3) at Bello Field. The Jumbos play the Ephs on Saturday at noon in the semis. The Panthers and Mules play in Saturday's other semi-final at 2:30. The title game is set for Sunday at noon.

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