MEDFORD, MA – The No. 16 Amherst College women's soccer team traveled to Kraft Field at Tufts University this past Saturday and emerged with a thrilling overtime victory over the Jumbos, 2-1. The decisive score came on a penalty kick by Alexa Juarez '22 just 2:20 into the first overtime after a sustained attack by the Mammoths. With the crucial NESCAC victory, women's soccer moves to 6-1-1 in league play and 10-1-1 overall as the Mammoths approach their final two regular season contests. The Jumbos fall to 5-6-0 overall and 3-5-0 in NESCAC play.

The Mammoths saw two excellent opportunities in the first half, the first coming just six minutes into the game when a header by Carter Hollingsworth '25 rang the crossbar. Later in the opening 45-minutes, Natalie Landau '22 collected a loose ball and went in one-on-one with Tufts keeper Kaelin Logue who was up to the task and recorded a beautiful save to keep the game scoreless.

After that scoreless first half that saw Tufts outshoot Amherst 5-4, the Jumbos struck first in the 53^rd minute off the head of Liz Reed. Margaux Ameer assisted Reed on the header that looped over Amherst goaltender Mika Fisher '24 and into the back of the net.

Responding quickly, the Mammoths tied the game at one just 12 minutes later after a rebound following a shot by Landau found the foot of Patience Kim '25 who buried her team-leading ninth goal of the season. The game remained tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation and this NESCAC tilt required a decisive overtime period.

The Mammoths moved down the field quickly in overtime, controlling possession that led to a foul on Landau inside the box as she cut into the scoring area after a collecting a throw-in from the left sideline. Juarez was called on to take the penalty kick and sent a driven ball into the bottom left corner to give the Mammoths a 2-1 overtime victory.

Tufts outshot Amherst 15-10, but Amherst was more efficient with their attacks as they put six of their 10 shots on frame. Tufts keeper Logue registered four saves in the losing effort, while Mika Fisher saved two shots in her 11^th win of the season for the Mammoths.