AMHERST, MA – Just one day after handing 15th-ranked Middlebury College its first loss of 2009, the Amherst College women's soccer team earned a 2-0 win over Bates College at Hitchcock Field. The Lord Jeffs improve to 7-2-0 (5-1-0 NESCAC) and move into a tie for second place in the conference standings, while the Bobcats fall to 3-6-1 (1-5-0 NESCAC).

Amherst took a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the 30th minute and got an insurance tally from first-year Kathryn Nathan (Pembroke, MA) late in the second half. The Jeffs held a commanding 34-5 advantage in shots and a 19-3 edge in shots on goal, but Bates sophomore goalkeeper Annie Burns made 17 saves and held the hosts to only two goals during a phenomenal performance.

Burns made 11 saves Saturday against Williams, as she was put to the test during a tough weekend against two of the region's top teams. Sophomore Allie Horwitz (Woodbridge, CT) made three stops for Amherst and earned her fourth solo shutout to improve to 7-2-0 on the season.

Amherst increased its unbeaten streak against Bates to 12 games, its winning streak to six and its shutout streak to four, as the Bobcats have not gotten the best of the Jeffs since the 2000 regular season. With the win, Amherst joins Middlebury at 5-1 in the NESCAC standings.

Amherst nearly got on the scoreboard in the first 45 seconds of the game when sophomore Livia Rizzo (Dover, MA) played the ball ahead to junior forward Jackie Hirsch (Wilmette, IL) on the left wing. Hirsch took a dribble toward the goal and let loose a hard shot, but Burns was there to make the first save of the afternoon.

The Jeffs' first goal began to develop when senior co-captain Meg Murphy (Springfield, MA) faked out a Bates defender on the left wing, brought the ball back to her right foot and ripped a shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar. The ball then bounced off a Bobcat defender and into the net, giving Amherst a 1-0 lead with 15:17 to play in the first half.

Bates nearly tied things up with six minutes to play in the opening half when a Mariah Barstow cross from the right wing made its way over Horwitz's head and hit the far post. The ball bounced back out along the goal line but never crossed it, as Amherst escaped unharmed and carried its 1-0 lead into halftime.

Amherst looked much sharper in the second half, out-shooting the visitors by a commanding 21-1 margin. The Jeffs looked to score a second goal six minutes into the second frame when first-year Hannah Cooper (Bethesda, MD) played the ball ahead to Murphy in the box, but Bates sophomore Amanda Sirianni was there to make a nice play and clear the ball away.

The Jeffs nearly scored on rebounds in the 57th and 73rd minutes, but Burns came up with impressive saves on each occasion. Twelve minutes into the second half, Nathan took a shot from the top of the 18 but had it denied by a diving Burns, with the ball making its way to first-year Emily Little (Sherborn, MA). Little was in the perfect position for a rebound, but her one-touch attempt was sent right into the arms of Burns, who was still on the ground after making her diving save.

The hosts pressured the Bates defense for the majority of the second half, but they would not add to their lead until the 84th minute when Hirsch played a ball to Nathan, whose left-footed attempt from just inside the 18 got by Burns. Nathan's insurance tally was her fourth score of the season, moving her into a tie for the team lead in goals.

The Lord Jeffs will return to action Thursday, Oct. 15 when they travel to take on Eastern Connecticut State University at 7 p.m. The Bobcats will next take on Maine-Farmington Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m.