AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College women's hockey team played one of their best games of the season, but couldn't muster enough to get past Utica, falling 3-1. With the loss, the Jeffs finished the regular season 10-14 overall and 6-10 in the NESCAC placing them fifth and setting up a first-round match up at fourth-seeded Colby College next Saturday. Utica improved to 16-6-2 overall.

Utica opened the scoring when junior forward Jill Nolan (Labrador, NF) scored the first of her hat-trick on a corky deflection off a shot from junior defenseman Kelli Vossler (Saranac, Lake, NY).

The second period may have been the best of the season for the Jeffs who sent an astounding 27 shots at the Utica net while only allowing the Pioneers to fire three at sophomore netminder Stacey Johnston (Kingston, ON). Amherst finally lit the lamp when junior forward Elizabeth Ditmore (Excelsior, MN) finished off a scramble in front of the net with sophomore forward Meg Quinn (Wakefield, MA) and rookie forward Anna MacLean (Edina, MN) collecting the assists on the power-play tally.

Utica regained the lead midway into the third period when Nolan scored her second on a backhander from Vossler and junior forward Mandy Finkle (Milford, MI). Nolan put the Jeffs away on a blistering slap-shot from just inside the blue line again from Vossler with sophomore defenseman Laura Schnitker (Laramie, WY) dishing out the other helper.

Johnston finished with 23 stops for Amherst while Utica's Stephanie Yates (Garden Grove, CA) made 44 saves.

Amherst opens up NESCAC Tournament play when they travel to meet Colby College next Saturday, February 25.

NESCAC Postseason Tournament Seedings
Quarterfinals – Saturday, February 25 at higher seeds
No. 7 Connecticut at No. 2 Bowdoin (TBA)
No. 6 Hamilton at No. 3 Williams (1 p.m.)
No. 5 Amherst at No. 4 Colby (1 p.m.)

Semifinals – Saturday, March 4 at No. 1 Middlebury
Lowest remaining seed vs. No. 1 Middlebury
Remaining quarterfinal winners

Championship – Sunday, March 5 at No. 1 Middlebury
Semifinal winners