AMHERST, MA – The 19th-ranked Amherst College field hockey team played host to visiting conference rival Connecticut College this afternoon on Gooding Field. Amherst opened up a two-goal lead in the first half, and outscored the Camels 4-3 in the second stanza for a 6-3 win.

With 23:40 remaining in the first half, Amherst sophomore Katie McMahon (Denville, NJ) worked the ball down the right side of the Conn College goal area. After drawing out Camel goalie Aimee Rich, McMahon slotted a pass through to the front of the net for Casey Silver (Wheelright, MA) to punch home for an early 1-0 lead.

In the final three minutes of the first half, Amherst drew a trio of corners, setting up a second score moments after the final play. Once again, the ball moved from the right side of the goal mouth and after Rich dove to try and punch the ball away, Krista Zsitvay (New Vernon, NJ) found McMahon alone for the score. The score came with 2:28 to play in the first half, and sent the Lord Jeffs into the break up 2-0.

Early in the second half, Conn grabbed one goal back on a beautifully played penalty corner. Sophomore Britt Fitzgerald played the ball in from the end line, where Liz Rosenfeld trapped the ball and teed it up for a one-time drive by Abby Hine. The long shot beat Amherst goalie Sarah Wise (Akron, OH) into the lower left corner.

Amherst stretched its lead back to two goals with 23:17 to play in the second half, returning the favor with a score off a corner. Junior Carly Dudzik (Darien, CT) let a hard shot fly from the top of the circle, and senior tri-captain Liz Schink (Chicago, IL) redirected it into the net.

Just over two minutes later, Conn scored its second goal of the day off the exact same corner play, briefly cutting the deficit to 3-2. With 20:33 remaining, Amherst answered right back as Chrissy Cantore (Hershey, PA) tipped home a feed from Stephanie Clegg (Woburn, MA) to put Amherst back up 4-2.

Conn closed the gap to 4-3 with 13:35 to play in regulation. After a penalty corner, Hanna Wagner's shot was saved by Wise, only to see Fitzgerald on the doorstep to punch home the rebound. Amherst's lead grew back to 5-3 with just over nine minutes to play, as rookie Alex Philie (East Sandwich, MA) bounced home a shot off a McMahon feed.

Amherst added an insurance goal with 6:11 to play, stretching the lead to 6-3. Sarah McCarrick (New Canaan, CT) scored the goal this time, finishing off a feed from Dudzik once again. 

When the final whistle blew, six different players had scored one goal each for Amherst, while McMahon added a pair of assists with her goal. Dudzik dished out two assists in the win as well. Hine scored two goals for Conn, while Fitzgerald had a pair of helpers to go along with her one score. 

The result moves Amherst's record to 3-2 on the year, and an even 2-2 in New England Small College Athletic Conference play. The loss is the first of the season for the Camels, dropping Conn to 4-1 (2-1 NESCAC). Amherst will return to action on Wednesday evening for a non-conference home game against Mount Holyoke College at 7 p.m.