AMHERST, MA – The sixth-ranked Amherst College women's ice hockey team came out on the winning end of an action-packed 6-5 game against Utica College Thursday night at Orr Rink. Stephanie Clegg '12 (Woburn, MA) recorded a hat trick for the Lord Jeffs, who close out their regular season at 17-5-2 overall.

Megan Myers recorded a hat trick of her own for the Pioneers (12-11-0), bringing her season total to a team-leading 17 goals. First-year Ashley Salerno (Brunswick, ME) added two goals and Geneva Lloyd '13 (Calgary, Alberta) had three assists for the Lord Jeffs, who were successful on four of their eight power play opportunities.

During an early power play Amherst senior defenseman Randi Zukas (Glen Head, NY) collected a pass at the point and sent a hard slap shot toward the net, with a deflection by Clegg beating Utica goaltender Marissa Hotaling to give Amherst a quick 1-0 lead. The Pioneers evened the score five minutes later on a perfectly executed 2-on-0 break when Carmen Johnson returned a pass to Myers, who lifted a shot over the outstretched pad of Amherst goaltender Caroline Hu (Cerritos, CA).

Amherst regained the lead with 48 seconds left in the opening period when Salerno ripped a shot over Hotaling's shoulder and into the top netting, sending Amherst into the first intermission with a 2-1 advantage.

Utica opened a thrilling second period with goals from Myers and Johnson, giving the Pioneers a 3-2 lead with seven minutes to go. The lead would be short-lived, however, as Amherst responded less than a minute later during a 5-on-4 advantage when Lloyd skillfully corralled the puck behind the net and sent a back-handed pass toward the goal. Clegg redirected the puck past Hotaling to tie the game at three goals apiece.

With 3:28 left in the second frame senior Courtney Hanlon (Fullerton, CA) sent a perfect pass through traffic to fellow tri-captain Megan Curry (Shorewood, MN), who slid the puck toward the net while being taken down from behind. The referee signaled for a penalty, but the puck trickled past Hotaling before the play was blown dead, allowing Amherst to take a 4-3 lead.

Utica again responded a minute into the third period when junior Mackenzie Roy beat Hu with a hard a slap shot from the point to tie the game at 4-4, but back-to-back power play goals from Salerno and Clegg gave Amherst a 6-4 advantage with 11:51 remaining in regulation.

Another goal from Myers cut the lead to 6-5 with 2:32 to play, but Amherst withstood late pressure and held on for the win.    

Hu finished the night with 11 saves for the Jeffs, while Hotaling totaled 23 stops in the loss for the Pioneers. With her two assists, Zukas extended her point streak to seven games.

Amherst will return to action Saturday, Feb. 26, when they host an opponent yet to be determined in the NESCAC Championship quarterfinals. Utica will travel to take on fourth-ranked Plattsburgh State this Saturday.