After jumping out to a convincing start to the 2007 campaign with an 18-6 victory over Wellesley on March 14, the women's lacrosse team did not have quite as much luck over spring break, losing two of its three home games and falling to 2-2 and 0-2 in the NESCAC.
On Saturday, the Jumbos lost their second conference game of the season, dropping a 12-9 decision to Wesleyan. The Jumbos started out fast, as junior attack Sarah Williams opened the scoring with her fifth goal of the season. This was quickly followed by a goal from freshman Jenna Abelli, which spurred Tufts to a 2-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game.
Tufts maintained its lead early on, keeping Wesleyan off the scoreboard until the midway point of the first half, when the Cardinals tallied three unanswered goals in less than three minutes. The Jumbos responded, as the teams went into halftime knotted at five.
Goals by junior midfielder Alyssa Corbett and senior co-captain Jackie Thomas gave the Jumbos the upper hand early in the second half. But Wesleyan took over from there, pouring in seven-straight goals.
Tufts mounted a late comeback, adding two goals to close the gap to 12-9, but sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Stemerman was solid down the stretch and the Cardinals held on for their first NESCAC victory of the season and ran their record to 3-2.
On Tuesday the Jumbos notched their lone spring break victory, a non-conference win over Wheaton College. The Lyons struck first with a goal from freshman midfielder Brittany King, but the Jumbos pulled away in the game's final 30 minutes as an aggressive Jumbos offense tallied 10 second-half scores.
Tufts kicked off its NESCAC schedule on St. Patrick's Day with a heartbreaking loss to Williams, as a valiant comeback attempt was thwarted in two overtimes. Ephs senior tri-captain Elizabeth Pierce netted the game-winner with just under 1:44 left in the second extra frame to lift her team to a 13-12 victory.
The Jumbos have a chance to better their NESCAC mark when they face two teams that finished near the bottom of the NESCAC standings a year ago. On Wednesday, Tufts will host Conn. College, winless last season in conference play, before traveling to Trinity on Saturday for its first road game of the year.
-by Ethan Landy
