Box Score MEDFORD - In a game that featured two teams who had given up just three goals between them all season, the Lord Jeffs were able to convert twice against the Jumbos on their way to handing Tufts their first loss on the year. It was the first time Tufts had let in more than one goal in a game. Amherst avenged their 2-1 loss to Tufts from one year ago.
The contest started off fast for the Jumbos and the Lord Jeffs, with both sides producing spurts of possession. Striker Jess Capone slipped a pass to left winger Brooke Fortin who struck a low ball on the ground to right winger Mariah Harvey-Brown who had migrated into the middle. Her good first touch gave her enough space to get off a left-footed shot towards the right post, but it went just wide.
Both sides had several corner kicks during the first 45 that gave both defenses trouble. Defenders Catharine Greer and Nicole Campellone were forced to clear the ball away off the line with their heads on many of the Amherst attempts. On the other end, middie Carla Kruyff sent a corner ball to the far post where Greer got her head on it, but Lord Jeffs goalkeeper Holly Burwick, who leads the NESCAC with a 0.15 goals against average, held her position at the post and blocked the header.
The Lord Jeffs came out strong in the second half and controlled the majority of play. Forward Hannah Guzzi had a break away chance ten minutes into the frame. She streaked into the 18 just left of center and struck a hard left-footed ball at the goal, but goalkeeper Eileen McGarry had positioned herself well, cutting off Guzzi's options, so she shot it near post, but McGarry's quick reflexes allowed her to save the shot and push it wide.
Amherst continued to press and finally broke the deadlock following a scrum in front of the net. The ball knocked off players' feet and McGarry's fingertips several times before forward Rachael Abernethy managed to hit it to Megan Kim who got it over the goal line before McGarry could stop it.
The Lord Jeffs received an insurance goal when Guzzi again found herself alone with McGarry after a pass from Jessy Hale. This time, the freshman put it home for her fifth goal of the year, tying her for third in goal-scoring in the conference.
Catharine Greer performed well for the Jumbos in the back after missing two and a half games due to injury.
The Jumbos travel to Lesley University on Tuesday for an 8:00pm start.
Game Photos by Alonso Nichols / Tufts
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