Teams: Women's Lacrosse: Schedule & Results

#16 TUFTS UPSETS #7 MIDDLEBURY TO SECURE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 15, Middlebury 7

At Medford, MA (Bello Field)
Saturday, April 26, 2008

Game Box Score

Junior Courtney Thomas scored three times and had two assists in one of the Tufts program's biggest-ever wins

MEDFORD -- The 16th ranked Tufts University women's lacrosse team ended #7 Middlebury College's 76-game NESCAC winning streak dating back to the 2000 season with a decisive 15-7 victory over the Panthers at Bello Field on Saturday afternoon.

The win over the Panthers is the first for the Tufts program since 1982. With it the Jumbos secured a home-field berth into tomorrow's first round of the NESCAC Tournament for the first time in team history. The Jumbos finished the regular season at 10-4 and 5-4 in NESCAC, while Middlebury fell to 10-3 and 8-1. The Panthers had already locked up first place in the league entering the game.

Sophomore Jenna Abelli (Framingham, MA) scored four goals to lead the Jumbos on Saturday. Junior Courtney Thomas (Needham, MA) had three goals and two assists for Tufts, while first-year goalie Sara Bloom (Summit, NJ) made a career-high 15 saves in a superb effort.

Middlebury, held to its lowest goal total of the season, was led by two scores from sophomore Dana Heritage (Cheshire, CT). Junior Blair Bowie (Washington, DC) played the majority of the game in goal for the Panthers and made 12 stops.

Visiting Middlebury started the game strong with three goals by Katherine Entwistle (Lower Gwynedd, PA), Heritage and Reid Berrien (Westport, CT) within a 39-second span. In a true team effort, Tufts quickly responded by scoring eight consecutive goals in the first half. Abelli, sophomore Emily Johnson (Yarmouth, ME) and Thomas each had two goals during the run, while Maya Shoham (West Hartford, CT) and Sarah Williams (Bethesda, MD) contributed one apiece to give the Jumbos an 8-3 lead. Middlebury got back on the board with 37 seconds remaining in the first half and it was 8-4 at halftime.

Tufts opened the second half with a goal from Thomas and Middlebury answered with a Sally Ryan strike for a 9-5 score. Throughout the second half Tufts continued to control the ball and capitalize on the majority of their scoring opportunities. Their quick ball movement and accurate passing allowed for great combinations as Williams set up Chrissie Attura (Yarmouth, ME) and minutes later Attura set up Williams to put the Jumbos ahead 12-6 with 15:26 reamining. Middlebury scored its last goal of the day by Heritage at 12:24 of the second half. Tufts' Abelli and Williams finished out the scoring for the 15-7 final.

Tufts, the fourth seed in tomorrow's NESCAC Tournament opener, will host fifth-seed Colby for a noon start on Bello Field. The Jumbos beat the Mules 15-14 in an exciting come-from-behind win earlier this season. Middlebury as the #1 seed receives a bye tomorrow and will host the semi-finals and championship game next weekend (May 3-4).

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