Contact: Justin Long
AMHERST, Mass. – Katie McMahon '13 (Denville, N.J.) and Ellie Andersen '15 (Phoenixville, Pa.) each scored a first-half goal to lead the seventh-ranked Amherst College field hockey team to a 2-0 win over Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon at Gooding Field.
The Lord Jeffs improve to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in the NESCAC, while the Cardinals drop to 8-5 (4-5 NESCAC) on the season. Amherst clinched a home quarterfinal game in next weekend's conference championship and increased its win streak over Wesleyan to seven games.
Amherst took a 1-0 lead when senior co-captain Carly Dudzik (Darien, Conn.) sent a pass across the crease to McMahon at the left post. McMahon's top-shelf one-timer left Wesleyan goalkeeper Tori Redding little chance of making a save, as the Jeffs got on the board with 20:27 remaining in the first half.
It took only five minutes and 24 seconds for the Jeffs to double their lead on a perfectly executed fast break. After Alex Philie '14 (East Sandwich, Mass.) gained possession of the ball in Wesleyan's offensive end, she passed it 20 yards up the field to Krista Zsitvay '14 (New Vernon, N.J.), who immediately hit Andersen on the run along the left side. Andersen carried the ball ahead 10 yards before getting a shot past Redding, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead with 15:03 to play.
Amherst carried its 2-0 lead into the break despite a 13-9 shot advantage for the Cardinals, who also held the edge in penalty corners in the opening half (10-6). Neither Redding nor Amherst's Rachel Tannenbaum '15 (Berwyn, Pa.) surrendered a goal in the relatively even second half. Wesleyan had a chance to score when Morgan McCauley '12 attempted a penalty stroke with one minute remaining in regulation, but Tannenbaum tipped it wide.
Tannenbaum made 13 saves on the day, eight of which came during the first period, while Redding was credited with three stops in each half.
Prior to the game Amherst honored its six seniors, who have posted a 45-16 record during their time at Amherst. Joining Dudzik in the Class of 2012 are Casey Silver '12 (Wheelright, Mass.), Rachel Lupien '12 (Baltimore, Md.), Chrissy Cantore '12 (Hershey, Pa.), Stephanie Clegg '12 (Woburn, Mass.) and Sarah McCarrick '12 (New Canaan, Conn.). Clegg was instrumental in leading the Amherst defense to its fifth shutout of the season.
Both teams will close out their regular seasons this Wednesday, with Amherst hosting Connecticut College and Wesleyan taking on Trinity.
