FROM A TUFTS UNIVERSITY RELEASE

March 30, 2005 

MEDFORD, MA - The 12th-ranked Amherst College men's lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday, falling at fourth-ranked NESCAC rival Tufts University, 9-2. Senior Alex Casertano (Millbrook, NY) paced the Jeff attack with a goal and an assist as they fell to 3-1 (1-1 NESCAC), while Tufts remained undefeated at 4-0 (1-0 NESCAC). 

The two squads battled through a scoreless opening frame in which Tufts senior goalie Andy Starr collected five saves, while Amherst senior tri-captain goalie Cushing Donelan (Noroton, CT) posted two. Tufts junior Mike O'Brien broke the stalemate at the 13:34-mark of the second quarter and added another score and an assist before the break to guide the Jumbos to a 4-0 halftime lead. 

Tufts pushed the lead to 8-0 with four third-period goals, including a trio from junior Billy Granger. Casertano finally put the Jeffs on the board with 11 minutes left in the final frame, scoring off a feed from sophomore Derek Cherney (Chappaqua, NY), and senior Josh Cherney (Chappaqua, NY) added Amherst's other score inside the 10:00-mark. 

Donelan finished with nine saves, while Starr posted a game-high 15 to secure the victory. 

Amherst returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. at NESCAC foe Colby College. 

BOX SCORE