AMHERST, MA - Amherst opened its 2002 season with a 2-0 win over visiting NESCAC rival Connecticut College on Sunday. Sophomore midfielders Adrienne Showler and Ashley Harmeling each found the back of the net in the second half, while senior co-captain goalie Brooke Diamond posted seven saves en route to her 25th career shutout.

After a scoreless first half that saw just one shot on goal, thanks in large part to standout defensive pressure from Amherst backs Lyn Wojcik, Leslie Curren, Katelyn McCabe and Mary Sarro-Waite, the Jeffs finally cracked the scoring column in the 53rd minute. Sophomore midfielder Kate Ferris ignited the scoring chance by threading a nifty pass to classmate Tracy Montigny, who then rocketed a shot at diving Conn. College goalkeeper Paige Diamond, younger sister of Amherst's Brooke Diamond. Showler pounced on the rebound and put the Jeffs up 1-0 with an easy right-footed tally.

The lead remained 1-0 until the 75th minute when Harmeling, in her first year at Amherst after transferring from Harvard University, curled a free kick around a wall of Camel defenders to set the final score at 2-0.

Conn. College countered with several legitimate scoring opportunities in the second half. Junior Brianna Balboni chipped a ball off the crossbar in the 72nd minute, and first-year forward Caite McNeil had a point blank shot just 35 seconds later, but was denied by a sliding save by Brooke Diamond. Conn. forward Abigail Houghton drilled yet another shot of the crossbar just inside the five-minute mark, and Amherst was content to run the remaining time off the clock.

Amherst returns to action Thursday at 5 p.m. against visiting non-league foe Smith College.