AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College women's lacrosse team played host to 2nd-ranked Colby College this afternoon in NESCAC action at Gooding Field for Amherst's Senior Day. Amherst held an 8-5 lead, but saw its upset bid slip away on the way to a 10-9 overtime loss. The Jeffs dropped to 6-6 (3-5 NESCAC) with the loss, while Colby improved to 12-1 (7-1 NESCAC) with the win.
Prior to the start of today's game, Amherst honored seniors Catherine Calvert (Lawrenceville, NJ), Caki Guinee (Owings Mills, MD), Mary Noonan (West Roxbury, MA) and Amy Craig (Denver, CO). The Class of 2009 entered today with a 40-22 career record at Amherst, having advanced to the National Quarterfinals in both 2006 and 2008.
Colby scored the game's first goal just one minute into the game, as Becky Julian finished off an assist from Lauren Strazzula. After Colby goalie Sarah Warnke made a great save on Noonan in transition, the Mules took a 2-0 lead on an unassisted score by Heather Nickerson.
Amherst closed the margin to 2-1 with 17:33 to play in the first half, as Noonan beat Warnke to cap a long Lord Jeff possession. Less than three minutes later, Amherst tied the game 2-2 as rookie Allie Horwitz (Woodbridge, CT) scored on a dodge from behind the net.
The Lord Jeffs took their first lead of the game with 13:06 to play in the first, when sophomore Kelley Trapp (Monterey, CA) fed Craig cutting to the crease for a score over Warnke's head. Moments later, Craig was whistled for a yellow card, allowing Colby to tie the game on a Kate Sheridan score.
With 9:26 to play in the half, Craig bounced home a Hannah Walker (Greenwich, CT) pass to put Amherst up 4-3. Colby answered just over four minutes later, as Nickerson put in a helper from Sheridan at the 5:08 mark.
At the 2:30 mark of the first half, Horwitz found Noonan slashing to the cage for a score in the top corner to take a 5-4 lead. The Noonan score proved to be the final of the first half, sending Amherst into the break with an upset on their minds.
Colby scored the first goal of the second half, as Kathleen Kramer rattled home a score off the post. Julian picked up the assist on the score that tied the game 5-5 with just over 27 minutes remaining in the second half.
With 22:38 to play, Colby was whistled for its second straight yellow card in quick succession, giving Amherst rookie Lindsey Moran (Upper Montclair, NJ) a free-position opportunity. Moran put the Jeffs up 6-5 with a laser shot to the left side. Amherst quickly opened up a 7-5 lead with 21:35 to play, as Trapp found Walker for a score into an open goal.
With 19:03 to play, Amherst took a three-goal lead at 8-5 as Trapp found junior Tyler Tory-Murphy (Sea Cliff, NY) for a goal. The helper was Trapp's third of the game, giving her 15 assists on the season to go along with 15 goals, for 30 points.
Colby closed the gap to 8-6 two minutes later as Kramer dumped in a free-position shot past Harik. The White Mules climbed within a single score at 8-7 when Amy Campbell scored on a free-position attempt shortly after.
With just under four minutes to play, Warnke made a crucial save on Walker, denying Amherst's bid for a two-goal lead and giving the Mules the ball back. Harik returned the favor on the ensuing Colby possession, sparking a fast-break with a long outlet pass. Amherst pulled the ball out as the clock passed by the two-minute mark.
The Mules got the ball back and with 1:19 remaining, Colby's Sheridan scored a huge goal to tie the game 8-8. Amherst won the ensuing draw control, but was unable to put a shot on frame. Colby brought the ball up-field setting up a 2-on-1 against Harik. The Lord Jeff rookie made the biggest save of her young career with just seconds to play, sending the game into overtime.
In the first half of the extra frame, Colby took a 9-8 lead with 46.5 seconds to play on an unassisted goal by Julian. Amherst tied the game early in the second portion of the first overtime, as Craig bounced home an equalizer with 2:20 to play in the stanza.
With 1:02 to play in overtime, Colby took a 10-9 lead on another Sheridan score. After the unassisted tally, the Mules won the ensuing draw, and killed off the final minute of the game for the win.
Amherst was led by Craig's three goals and Trapp's three assists, while Julian and Sheridan each had three points for the Mules. Harik played well in net for Amherst with 14 saves, including 11 in the second half, while Warnke made 12 stops for the Mules.
The Lord Jeffs will close the regular season at Trinity on Friday evening, before starting NESCAC Tournament play next Sunday in the Quarterfinals.
