Senior captain Marta Randall scored with 13 seconds left in regulation to give the Amherst women’s lacrosse team a thrilling 6-5 victory over No. 17 Tufts on Saturday afternoon.
The game ended a two-game losing streak for the Jeffs, who fell to Connecticut College, 10-8, last Wednesday evening. No. 10 Amherst is now 7-4 overall and 4-4 in NESCAC play.
Krista Zsitvay ’14 opened scoring on Saturday with a free position shot just over two minutes into the first half, and classmate Alex Philie padded the lead with an unassisted score four minutes later.
Gabby Horner ’14 responded with two consecutive goals for Tufts to tie the game with 21:07 left on the clock.
With even play resulting in no goals for the next 12 minutes, Philie broke the drought with her second tally of the game at the nine-minute mark. first-year Caroline Ross evened the score for Tufts with two minutes left in the half, and the teams headed into the locker room tied, 3-3.
Mia Haughton ’16 broke the tie just over a minute into the second half, taking advantage of a free position shot for her sixth goal of the season. Ross struck again, however, tying the game for the third time with 25 minutes remaining in the half.
Amherst finally pulled ahead on a free-position goal from Elizabeth Ludlow, but Tufts fired back 23 seconds later to make it 5-5 with just over seven minutes left in regulation.
The Jumbos held possession of the ball as the clock wound down at the one-minute mark, but an offensive charge caused a turnover and gave the Jeffs their final chance of the game.
Senior Captain Hilary Densen found Randall on the clear with a long pass into the Tufts defensive zone, and Randall quickly dodging her defender and buried the shot behind the Tufts goalkeeper for a dramatic finish. Amherst walked away with the victory, 6-5.
Philie led the way for Amherst with two goals, two draw controls, two groundballs and one caused turnover, while Haughton followed close behind with a goal and one assist. Christy Forrest made 14 saves in net to anchor the defense, as Tufts held a 27-13 shot advantage over the Jeffs.
The exciting victory broke a two-game losing streak for Amherst, who suffered a tough two-goal loss to Conn. College last Wednesday. Densen and Houghton carried Amherst with a combined three goals, but it would not be enough against the Camels, who picked up their first NESCAC win.
The teams shared possession for the first ten minutes of the game, but Randall broke the scoreless tie at 18:20 with an unassisted goal. Heidi Halsted ’15 responded two minutes later on a free position shot, sparking a four-goal run for the Camels. Down by three with under two minutes left in the half, Caroline Holliday ’14 stepped up and buried a free position shot to bring the Jeffs within two heading into the break.
Conn kept up the pressure in the second half, however, as Taylor Thomas ’15 added her second of the game in the first three minutes to make it 5-2.
Haughton answered three minutes later to cut the deficit to two, but the Camels scored five of the next seven goals for a 10-5 lead with 13 minutes remaining. First-year Elizabeth Paul tallied her first collegiate goal in the flurry, but play was delayed with 16:10 left due to inclement weather.
The Camels picked up right where they left off when play resumed, notching two free position goals from Thomas and senior Bri Miller. Sarah Spector ’15 added her own free position score in between to buffer Conn’s offensive surge.
Densen then set off a three-goal run for Amherst with an unassisted goal at the twelve-minute mark, but it would not be enough for the Jeffs.
Meghan Mills ’15 scored the second goal of the run with under a minute left, and Densen finished off scoring on a free position shot with just three seconds left in the game. Amherst was two goals short at the buzzer, however, and the Camels walked off with the 10-8 victory.
Amherst will look to start a new win streak on Saturday with a victory against NESCAC rival Williams. The conference showdown is set for noon on Gooding Field.
