Contact: Ben Badua

AMHERST, Mass. – First-year Lynndy Smith scored the go-ahead goal with 7:47 remaining in regulation to lift the 10th-ranked Amherst women's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over the College of the Holy Cross at Orr Rink.

Playing their first game in nearly a month, the Jeffs improved to 5-2-2 on the season, while dropping the Crusaders to 6-5-0 on the year. Amherst is now 9-4 all-time against their in-state rivals, having won each of the last four meetings.

Skating from right to left, Amherst's Courtney Baranek '14 generated the game's first scoring chance five minutes after the opening face-off with a low tracer that caught the pad of junior goaltender Alexandra Stevenson. Moments later, the Jeffs broke through on sophomore Caroline Bomstein's first career goal. Gathering the puck at the right point, the defenseman blasted a slap shot past Stevenson at 6:39 to put the home team on the board.

Pushing forward moments later, Holy Cross nearly tied the game. Emily Sullivan '14 got the play started with a hard shot from the left circle that forced a Kerri Stuart '14 stop. With Amherst's senior goalie unable to control the rebound, a charging Crusader forward looked to have a chance at an open net, but Stuart quickly slid across the crease and kicked out the second attempt to preserve the Jeff lead. Keeping the pressure on, Nicole Giannino '15 found open space in front, but slid her try just wide of the right post.

Outshot 11-5 over the first 20 minutes, Holy Cross hoped to get something going early in the second period. Keeping Amherst pinned in its defensive zone, Rachel Miller '15 came away with a loose puck before skating between the circles. Looking to goal, the forward sent a rising wrister through a screen and over Stuart's right shoulder at 5:37 to pull the Crusaders even.

Midway through the frame Amherst nearly retook the lead. Coming up the left side, Erin Martin '16 put a shot on target, forcing Stevenson to make a stop. Trailing the play, Tori Salmon '15 corralled the rebound but sent the ensuing try over a sprawled out Stevenson's glove and off the crossbar.  

On the power play at the tail end of the period, Caitlyn Ryan '17 put a long shot from the blue line on net, but Stevenson was there to make the stop. Still on the man advantage, Salmon got free in the right circle, but the Crusader goalie once again smothered the try as the teams headed into the intermission deadlocked at 1-1.

Still tied with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, Amherst earned its second power play of the afternoon. Testing Stevenson, Ryan put a shot on goal that prompted a save. Making her way to the front of the net, Smith collected the rebound near the right post before hammering home the go-ahead goal at 12:13.

With just over a minute remaining, Holy Cross pulled Stevenson for an extra skater. Breaking out of the defensive zone, Giannino rushed forward and got a clean look from point-blank range. Standing tall, Stuart turned away the try to keep the Jeffs on top. Digging the puck out of the right corner, Amherst quickly regained possession before finding Emily Flom '15, who tacked on an empty netter at 19:25.

The Jeffs finished with a 24-19 shot advantage, while converting one of their two power play opportunities. Making 18 saves, Stuart improved to 5-2-1 on the season, while Stevenson finished with 21 stops.

Amherst returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 7 against SUNY Cortland.