CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Two goals in the third quarter helped nationally-ranked No. 12 Amherst College defeat No. 14 MIT, 3-0, in a non-conference field hockey game on Wednesday night. Muffie Mazambani scored twice while Beth Williamson earned two assists for the Mammoths.

Amherst improved to 3-2 overall. MIT fell to 5-2 on the season. The Mammoths are at Bates Saturday for an 11 a.m. start.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Amherst opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when Williamson sent a pass to the middle of the circle. In a scrum in front of the goal, Mazambani deflected the ball to the far post. 
 
* The second quarter was a midfield battle as Amherst generated the lone shot of the frame. MIT had a chance to tie the game during final seconds of the period with a potential three-on-one situation. but Mammoth goalkeeper Sara Nidus blew up the play as time expired.
 
* On the Mammoths' first penalty corner of the game, Mazambani increased the lead to 2-0 after connecting on passes from Williamson and Sage Geyer in the 36^th minute. During the next four minutes, Ladd put two shots on goal as the Engineers earned a pair of penalty corners. However, Amherst found the back of the cage in the 45^th minute when Abbey Kays, standing in the middle of the arc, sent a sweeping shot to the near post.

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
* Smiga-McManus and sophomore Anna Duncan shared goaltending duties for MIT, however, neither recorded a save.
 
* Nidus posted two saves for Amherst.
 
* The Mammoths had a slight edge in shots (6-5) and shots on goal (3-2) while the Engineers had the upper hand in penalty corners (8-2).