AMHERST, MA – The 10th-ranked Amherst College women's lacrosse team opened the 2009 spring season this afternoon playing host to NESCAC rival and 17th-ranked Tufts University at Gooding Field. The Lord Jeffs trailed 8-3 at the half, and received 6 second-half goals from senior quad-captain Amy Craig (Denver, CO) in a valiant comeback effort. Ultimately, Tufts scored a trio of goals in the second half to pull out an 11-9 win.

Early in the first half, Tufts opened the scoring with a goal from Courtney Thomas off a feed from Emily Johnson. Amherst responded to take a 2-1 lead on quick goals from sophomore Kelley Trapp (Monterey, CA) and senior Mary Noonan (West Roxbury, MA). Thomas needed just 11 seconds after Noonan's score to equalize at 2-2, with 24:24 remaining in the first half.

Noonan would score Amherst's only other goal of the first half on an assist from classmate, and fellow quad-captain, Caki Guinee (Owings Mills, MD) with 21:37 remaining. From there, the Jumbos rattled off a streak of six straight goals to finish the first half leading 8-3. During the scoring spurt, Lara Kozin scored two goals and dished out an assist, while Chrissie Attura added a goal and two helpers.

Amherst responded like everyone would expect a top-10 team should, with Craig stepping up as only a reigning All-American could. The senior leader scored three goals on her first three shots of the second half, closing the gap to 8-6 with 18:29 to play in the second half. 

Nearly three minutes went by, before Kozin scored her third and final goal of the day off a feed from Jenna Abelli with 15:37 to play. The Jumbos scored the eventual game-winner just 41 seconds later, as Johnson beat Amherst rookie goalie Lamia Harik (Rye Brook, NY).

In the final 13 minutes of the game, Craig added another trio of goals, including the game's only free-position goal in the final minute. Despite the great second half from Craig helping Amherst out-score Tufts 6-3 in the frame, the Jumbos held on for the 11-9 win.

Amherst's Caroline Burke (Brookline, MA) started the game in net, making three saves in the first half, before giving way to Harik, who finished with a pair of stops in the second half. Tufts' goalie Sara Bloom was solid in net, making 13 saves for the win. 

The Lord Jeffs dropped their season opener for the first time since 1998, while Tufts improves to 1-0 in both the NESCAC and overall. Amherst will look to rebound on Thursday night when they host local foe Springfield College in non-conference action at 6 p.m.