Athletics News

Connecticut College 14, #16 Tufts University 7 Ross´ 12 First Half Saves Ignites Camels in Fourth Consecutive Victory

Jenna Ross ´10 Had 16 Saves in Wednesday´s Victory Against 16th Ranked Tufts

March 26, 2008

NEW LONDON, Conn. --Sophomore Jenna Ross (Longmeadow, Mass.) made 12 of her 16 saves in the opening half of play as Connecticut College (4-3, 1-2) surprised 16th ranked Tufts University (3-2, 1-2) with a convincing 14-7 triumph in NESCAC women´s lacrosse action played on Silfen Field Wednesday afternoon. The explosive Jumbo offense was producing 15 goals per game but Ross slammed the door shut in the first half, keeping the visitors off the scoreboard to set the tone in the opening 30 minutes of play for the Camels, who notched their fourth consecutive victory.

Senior Sarah Miner (Fairfield, Conn.) erupted with seven points, tallying three goals and assisting on four others. Jen Robinson (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Paige Pascarelli (Wayne, Pa.) each contributed with three goals for the winning side. Emily Mason (Williamstown, Mass.) had two goals, two assists, two ground balls and two draw controls. Lindsey Coit (South Portland, Maine) chipped in with two goals and an assist. Connecticut College head coach Heather McClelland was impressed with the team´s defensive performance in an important conference victory.

"Jenna (Ross) really came up huge for us with some key saves and holding them scoreless in the half really provided us with the momentum we needed," McClelland stated.

Junior Maya Shoham (West Hartford, Conn.) paced the visitors with a hat-trick. Courtney Thomas (Needham, Mass.), Alyssa Kopp (Hollis, N.H.), Sarah Williams (Bethesda, Md.) and Emily Johnson (Yarmouth, Maine) added scores for the Jumbos. Shoham and Thomas share the team lead with 14 goals scored. Sara Bloom (Summit, N.J.) finished with four saves for Tufts.

Pascarelli opened the scoring for the Camels, putting in an unassisted marker 4:10 into regulation. Chelsea Johnson (Portland, Maine) and Lindsey Coit (South Portland, Maine) followed with goals and it was a 3-0 game. Robinson provided the next two goals, taking feeds from Miner and Mason. Miner closed out the first half with a nifty bounce shot, finishing on a feed from Coit.

Ross was impressive from the outset, holding the Jumbos to just one goal on 10 free position attempts. Tufts ended its drought, breaking through with 29:18 to play on a score from Sarah Williams. But Miner answered with a tally 1:11 later that started a 3-0 Camel run. Coit and Pascarelli followed with free position goals to make it a 9-1 game with 23:37 remaining.

The Jumbos would cut the lead to six on two more occasions but the hosts had more than enough offense to hold on for the comfortable 14-7 victory.

For more information contact: William Tomasian (860) 439-2501; william.tomasian@conncoll.edu