Box Score AMHERST, Mass. – The No. 2 Tufts University women's lacrosse team made a second half comeback to down No. 9 Amherst College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos improve to 3-0 on the season with a 2-0 record in NESCAC games. The Mammoths fall to 2-1 overall with a 1-1 record in league games.
Amherst got on the board just 3:44 into the contest on a goal by Hannah Gustafson. Senior Emily Games responded nearly six minutes later with a down goal for 11th goal on the season. Sydney Larsen and a pair of goals from Claire Dunbar over the next four six minutes gave the hosts a 4-1 lead. Sophomore Anna Clarke and Larsen traded goals to keep the lead at three with 7:34 remaining in the opening half. A free position goal by junior Catherine Lawliss cut the lead to two late in the half but Becky Kendall gave Amherst the momentum headed to the break with just 14 seconds remaining, keeping a three-goal edge for the Mammoths.
The Jumbos came out the break with three goals in the first 8:05 of the second half. Games and Clarke combined for three straight Jumbo goals to tie the game and nearly five minutes later, junior Kirsten Grazewski gave Tufts lead with the fourth goal on the run. Gustafson tied the contest with her second goal of the day and just under 15 minutes remaining. Sophomore Colette Smith found an opening after a pass from classmate Mae Briody which gave Tufts the lead for good in the game. After nearly 13 scoreless minutes, Lawliss gave Tufts an insurance goal with just 20 seconds remaining as the Jumbos overcame a three-goal second half deficit to earn a 9-7 win over Amherst.
Games led all players with three goals in the game. Clarke and Lawliss added two goals each for the Tufts offense. Grazewski and Smith added goals for Tufts. Briody led all players with two assists. Senior Lily Baldwin earned four draw controls while classmate Maddie Norman scooped up three ground balls.
Dunbar, Gustafson, and Larsen had two goals each for the Mammoths. Dunbar also had an assist for three points on the day. Kendall added one goal for the Amherst offense. Gustafson and Larsen earned three draw controls each with Maia Noyes, Colleen Mooney, and Kat Krieg collected three ground balls each.
Sophomore Molly Laliberty earned the win, making 16 saves on 23 shots on goal. She improves to 3-0 on the season. Talia Land falls to 2-1 overall after making eight saves on 17 shots on goal.
The Jumbos are off until Saturday when they head to Gettysburg College. They are slated to start at 2pm. The Mammoths have a quick turnaround as they head to Babson College on Sunday for a 2pm start.
