Rufo’s Five Goals Leads Women’s Lacrosse over Dean

- PAXTON, MASS: Junior midfielder Ashley Rufo (Pittsfield, MA) scored five goals for a 'glut' as the Anna Maria College women's lacrosse team opened their 2021 home schedule with a thrilling 14-8 win against visiting Dean College in GNAC league play on Saturday afternoon at Carposo Field in Paxton, Massachusetts.

 THE BASICS:

- Date: Saturday, March 27, 2021

- Score: Anna Maria 14, Dean 8

- Records: Dean (0-1, 0-1 GNAC), Anna Maria (1-1, 1-0 GNAC)

 HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  Rufo's five goals on the day led all scorers on the day. The junior continues her dominating play against the Bulldogs, having scored eight goals against Dean last season.

- Dean sophomore Jasmine Sztyler-Magee (Burlington, Conn.) finished with four goals, eight ground balls, six draw controls and two caused turnovers to lead the Bulldogs.

- Anna Maria sophomore attacker Alice Yokabaskas (Farmingdale, ME) finished with three goals for a hat trick.

- Anna Maria freshman midfielder Raegan Hachey (Winthrop, ME), playing in just her second collegiate game, also posted a hat trick with three goals, also adding two ground balls.

-  Anna Maria struck first just 3:11 into the game when Hachey took a pass from fellow rookie mid Brandie Valine (South Dennis, MA) and scored her third career goal to put the AMCATS ahead 1-0. Valine would finish with two goals, giving her four in two games. The home team went up 2-0 exactly one minute later when Rufo scored unassisted for her third goal of the season.

- Dean tied it up at 2-2 with goals from sophomore Allie Bezio (Wellfleet, Mass.) and Sztyler-Magee. Bezio would finish with a hat trick of three goals. That set the pace for a back and forth first half. Indeed, the game entered halftime with Anna Maria clinging to a 7-5 lead.

- But the AMCATS kept the pressure on in the second half, pulling away and capitalizing on a late penalty to put it out of reach.

- Anna Maria sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Sheehan (Medford, MA) picked up the win in net, finishing with nine saves.

- Dean sophomore goalkeeper Jada Fields (Acushnet, Mass. / Old Rochester Regional) had ten saves for the Bulldogs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Shots: Anna Maria 27, Dean 25

-  Shots on Goal: Anna Maria 24, Dean 17

-  Turnovers: Dean 28, Anna Maria 24

UP NEXT:

- Anna Maria returns to action on Wednesday when they play host to Emmanuel College in a 6:00 p.m. GNAC contest.

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