AMHERST, Mass. – A goal and assist from Junior
Abby Schwartz help the #18-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team battle past the #23 Middlebury College Panthers to open the Mammoths' 2022 NESCAC campaign on Hitchcock Field.
It was the first time a Middlebury team had allowed 4 goals in a game since October 10, 2009, when the Panthers fell to Amherst, 6-1.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Junior
Abby Schwartz opened the scoring in the 24th minute, following an accurate pass from Senior
Alexa Juarez. Junior
Liza Katz then doubled the lead six minutes later, immediately after Sophomore
Alyssa Huynh's shot was saved by Midd's keeper Carolyn Kelley.
* Amherst began the second half with a 2-0 lead, but Midd halved the Mammoths' lead shortly after the restart, and Joely Virzi scored in the 52nd minute.
* The team in Purple and White immediately bounced back. Senior
Isabel Stern scored Amherst's third goal of the afternoon – less than two minutes after forcing a strong save from Midd's goalkeeper – by firing the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Junior
Ally Deegan then scored another goal for Amherst; in a two on one versus the Midd goalkeeper, Schwartz unselfishly passed the ball to Deegan to score.
* Middlebury finished the game strongly. The Panthers forced Amherst goalkeeper, Junior
Mika Fisher to make several excellent saves. Their efforts were rewarded with two goals in quick succession during the with less than ten minutes until the final whistle to bring the score line to 5-4. After a nerve-wracking and exciting end to the game, Amherst prevailed with a closely fought victory.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst continue their unblemished 2-0-0 (1-0-0 in NESCAC) record for the season.
* Amherst will play their next game tomorrow; they will make the short trip to Northampton to take on the Smith College Pioneers at 2 p.m.
* Top scorer Schwartz has marked a combined three goals and two assists Amherst's first two games of the season.
* Amherst had 18 shots (14 on goal) and Middlebury had 15 shots (11 on goal) in today's game.
