Keene, N.H. – Five different Purple & White players tallied a goal as the No. 18 Amherst College field hockey team shut out Keene State, 6-0 Wednesday evening at the Owls Athletic Complex.

After 16 minutes of scoreless play an Amherst timeout reenergized the Purple & White squad, as senior Sara Culhane notched her second goal of the season and the game-winner three minutes later at the 19:08 mark. With the Owl netminder on the turf after a save and the ball loose in front of the goal, Culhane got her stick on the ball to tap it over the goal line and give Amherst the 1-0 lead. 

Amherst doubled its lead three minutes later as Caroline Fiore '18 converted on a penalty stroke.

Closing out the first half with a two-goal lead, Amherst exploded for four unanswered scores in the second half to secure its first shut out victory of the season.

At the 40:05 mark, first-year Laura Schwartzman made it a 3-0 contest. The score marked the first goal of Schwartzman's collegiate career.  

Taking advantage of Amherst's tenth corner opportunity of the game, Elizabeth Turnbull '18 gave the Purple & White a 4-0 lead 13 minutes later, before Mary Grace Cronin '18 made it a 5-0 game with 16 minutes remaining.

Turnbull notched her second goal of the game with just over two minutes remaining in the matchup, converting on a penalty corner once again to secure the 6-0 win. 

With the victory, Amherst improves to 2-1 overall, while the Owls fall to 4-2 on the season. The Purple & White return to the turf on Saturday, Sept. 17 when they travel to NESCAC rival and No. 2 Middlebury for an 11 a.m. matchup, while Keene State travels to Western Conn. State on Sept. 17 for a 6 p.m. tilt.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

• Amherst held a 23-3 edge in shots and a 13-1 advantage in penalty corner opportunities, while Fiore led the Purple & White in shots on target with four.
• In a game marked by defensive dominance, Emily Horwitz '17 (2-1) recorded no saves in 65:40 in between the pipes to earn the win, before Emilie Flamme '20 entered for 4:20 in relief. Gwendolyn Thayer (4-2) registered 11 saves for the Owls in the losing effort.