AMHERST, MA – The fifth-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team opened its 2009 season with a 3-0 win over Bowdoin College Saturday afternoon at Hitchcock Field. The Lord Jeffs get off to a 1-0 start (1-0 NESCAC) while the Polar Bears drop to 0-1 (0-1 NESCAC).

Amherst increased its unbeaten streak against Bowdoin to four games, with the last Bowdoin victory coming in 2005 at Hitchcock Field. Saturday marked the fourth consecutive meeting in which the Lord Jeffs scored at least three goals against the Polar Bears. Dating back to the 2008 season, each of Amherst's past seven wins have come in shutout fashion.

Junior forwards Jackie Hirsch (Wilmette, IL) and Kyla Woodhouse (Topsham, ME) each had eight goals and six assists last season as Amherst's second-leading scorers, and each had a hand in the scoring on Saturday. Hirsch scored the ninth and 10th goals of her career in the fifth and 66th minutes, respectively, with Woodhouse netting her goal in the 24th minute.

The teams' statistics were virtually identical despite the lopsided score. Amherst out-shot Bowdoin by an 18-14 margin and narrowly won the corner kick battle, 5-4. Sophomores Allie Horwitz (Woodbridge, CT) and Claire Bennett (Westfield, NJ) combined for the shutout, with Horwitz making three saves in 67 minutes to earn her 11th career victory. Bennett stopped five shots in 23 minutes, while junior Kat Flaherty (Fairfield, CT) made six saves in the losing effort.

Hirsch's first goal was unassisted and came just five minutes into the game. Her shot from 25 yards out hit the bottom of the crossbar and was just out of Flaherty's reach, as the hosts took an early 1-0 lead. Woodhouse made it 2-0 nearly 20 minutes later when she settled a cross from sophomore Livia Rizzo (Dover, MA) and tapped the ball into the net.

In the 66th minute junior Maureen Griffin (Morgan Hill, CA) played a ball through the Polar Bear defense. Hirsch ran it down and forced Flaherty to come off her line, but there was nothing the Bowdoin keeper could do. Hirsch pushed the ball to the side to get by Flaherty and sent the ball into an empty net to give the Jeffs a comfortable 3-0 advantage. Griffin's assist marked the first point of her collegiate career.

The Lord Jeffs return to action Saturday, Sept. 19 when they travel to take on Tufts University at noon. The Polar Bears opens a five-game home stand Tuesday, Sept. 15 when they host Bates College at 4:30 p.m.