Jeffs Trip Up No. 13 Colby, 12-5

Zsitvay.jpg Courtesy of Colby Sports Information

WATERVILLE, Maine – Off to the program's best start in 14 years, the third-ranked Amherst College women's lacrosse team snapped a 10-game losing skid to 13th-ranked Colby College, downing the Mules in NESCAC action at Bill Alfond Field, 12-5.

With their last victory over Colby coming by way of a 12-11 overtime decision in 2006, the Jeffs are now 9-0 (6-0 NESCAC) on the season, while the Mules fell to 5-4 (3-3 NESCAC). Surpassing the 2008 and 2005 team's 8-0 starts, Amherst is 9-0 for the first time since the 2000 squad began the year with 10-consecutive victories.

Senior Krista Zsitvay finished with three goals, one assist, three draw controls, three ground balls, and a caused turnover, while Christy Forrest '16 made six of her nine saves in the second half.

Never trailing, Amherst opened up a 2-0 lead on goals from Alex Philie '14 and Rachel Passarelli '16. Tying the game at 2-2, Abby Hatch '15 scored on a free-position shot before Sarah Lux '14 made a run across the goal and fired in a tally with 17:41 on the clock. Putting Amherst up 4-2 at the half, Zsitvay netted an unassisted goal with 16:19 left before converting a free-position with 11:55 to go.

The Jeffs took control of the game with the first three goals coming out of the intermission. Philie scored unassisted just 56 seconds after the restart while Passarelli turned in her second goal on a free-position at 27:28. Winning the ensuing draw, Zsitvay found the back of the net just 12 seconds later.

Abby Hooper '16 trimmed the Colby deficit to 7-3 with 26:02 left before Katie Griffin '14 cut the margin to three when she scored thanks to a nice pass from Hatch. The Mules had three more chances to get the game to two goals, but could not get a shot past Forrest.

Helping Amherst pull away, Meghan Mills '15 responded by scoring two-straight. The first came on a Devin O'Connor '16 feed with 13:45 remaining in regulation before she later converted a free-position shot approaching the 10-minute mark.

Heath Cockrell '15 led Amherst's defense with three caused turnovers and a ground ball while Philie finished with three draw controls. Gemma Bready '17 had four draw controls for Colby in the second half. Emma Marjollet '16 added three draw controls and two ground balls, while defenders Brittany Chin '16 and Caroline Keaveney '15 each had two ground balls and one caused turnover.

Amherst returns to action on Tuesday, Apr. 8 against Conn. College.