Box Score
MEDFORD - Senior co-captain Lia Sagerman (LaJolla, CA) redirected a blast from sophomore Maggie Chapman (St. Louis, MO) into the goal on a corner attempt 4:17 into the first overtime period to give the host Tufts Jumbos a 4-3 NESCAC victory over Amherst College in a competitive contest at Bello Field on Saturday.
Playing on Homecoming Day, the #13 Jumbos received three goals from senior Kelsey Perkins (Barrington, RI) to get into overtime against the #12 Lord Jeffs. Amherst was led offensively by a goal and an assist from sophomore Ellie Andersen (Charlestown, PA).
The visiting Lord Jeffs scored twice on rebounds in the first half to lead 2-1 at intermission. After being denied on an early break-away by Tufts sophomore goalie Brianna Keenan (Greenland, NH), Amherst capitalized on a corner attempt when senior tri-captain Katie McMahon (Denville, NJ) scored off a saved shot 7:47 into the game for a 1-0 Amherst lead.
Tufts tied it in the 14th minute as Perkins scored her first, controlling a pass into the circle by senior co-captain Rachel Gerhardt (Worcester, MA) and driving it into the lower left corner of the cage. However, the Lord Jeffs went back on top (2-1) with 11:28 remaining until halftime when Andersen was on the spot after a defensive save by Gerhardt.
The Jumbos surged to 3-2 lead in the second half as Perkins notched her hat trick. She scored off an assist from Sagerman four minutes into the half, then gave Tufts the lead when she followed up her own shot with 29:26 on the clock.
The Lord Jeffs tied the game at 3-3 on a corner with 16:36 remaining. Andersen struck the ball from the top of the cirlcle and junior Alex Phillie (East Sandwich, MA) deflected it home. Tufts had more possession in the closing minutes of regulation, but the game went to overtime.
The Jumbos (7-1, 4-1 NESCAC) won in the extra period for the second time in six days. They took a 2-1 final in OT at Trinity last Sunday. They have now won seven games in a row. Amherst (5-2, 2-2) lost its second straight game.
Keenan made three saves in the Tufts cage to improve her record to 5-0 this fall. Sagerman finished with a goal and an assist for the Jumbos. Amherst sophomore Rachel Tannenbaum (Berwyn, PA) made four saves in each half to record eight for the game.
Tufts had final advantages of 21-10 in shots and 16-9 in corners.
The Jumbos are off until traveling to Connecticut College for a conference game next Saturday at 1 pm. The Lord Jeffs host Trinity on Tuesday at 4 pm.
Game statistics
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