by Ellen Swiontkowski '12
AMHERST, Mass. – The Amherst College field hockey team hadn't scored against Tufts University since 2007, but the Lord Jeffs accounted for the first three goals of Saturday's game and held on for an impressive 3-1 win at Gooding Field.
Ellie Andersen '15 (Phoenixville, Pa.) gave the hosts a 1-0 lead 20:12 into the game, while Sarah Canning '14 (Cos Cob, Conn.) and Carly Dudzik '12 (Darien, Conn.) added goals in the 52nd and 67th minutes, respectively. Tufts senior co-captain and reigning NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Taylor Dyer put the visitors on the board with 2:37 remaining in regulation for the final goal of the game.
Tufts held an 18-8 advantage in shots and a 9-4 edge in penalty corners, as first-year goalkeeper Rachel Tannenbaum (Berwyn, Pa.) came up with six saves and improved to 6-1 for Amherst (6-1, 4-1 NESCAC). Marianna Zak '12 made two stops for the Jumbos (5-2, 2-2 NESCAC), who began the week ranked ninth in the NFHCA Coaches Poll.
Amherst's first goal came on a 2-on-1 break midway through the opening half. Krista Zsitvay '14 (New Vernon, N.J.) delivered a cross to the right side of the visitors' zone and found Andersen, who sent a shot between the legs of Zak for her third tally of the season.
The Lord Jeffs pushed their lead to 2-0 16:56 into the second half on a re-direction by Canning, who deflected an initial attempt by Alex Philie '14 (East Sandwich, Mass.). It would be another 15 minutes before Amherst took a 3-0 lead, as Dudzik finished off a pass from Katie McMahon '13 (Denville, N.J.).
The Jumbos were awarded a penalty stroke with 2:37 remaining in regulation after the Lord Jeffs were whistled for using a hand in the box. Dyer lined up for the attempt and made it count, lifting a shot over a diving Tannenbaum to cut her team's deficit to two.
Tufts nearly made it a one-goal game 30 seconds later on a penalty corner, but Dudzik came up with a big defensive save on a diving effort. The Lord Jeffs would hang on for the 3-1 win, moving them into third place in the NESCAC standings.
The Lord Jeffs have won 11 consecutive home games since a 3-0 loss to Tufts early in the 2010 season. The Jumbos will host Trinity College tomorrow at 1 p.m., while Amherst will travel to take on Williams next Friday at 5 p.m.
