AMHERST, Mass. – Junior Abby Schwartz scored twice and assisted on another Wednesday afternoon as the No. 18-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team opened its 2022 season with a 5-2 victory over visiting Springfield College on Hitchcock Field.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
* Junior Liza Katz opened the scoring with less than two minutes to go in the first half; Katz clinically finished off a Schwartz pass to put the Mammoths in the lead.
 
* Springfield bounced back in the second half when Katie Vita netted a solo goal in the 52nd minute. The 1-1 deadlock was short-lived, however, when Schwartz scored her first goal of the game five minutes after Springfield's equalizing goal. Schwartz then scored again one-and-a-half minutes later, following an Ella Johnson assist.
 
* Springfield scored again in the 61st minute: Vasiliky Rizos finished a rebound after Amherst junior goalkeeper Mika Fisher saved Springfield's original effort from a penalty. In the closing 20 minutes, Amherst looked to be the team with the better stamina. Sophomore Sierra Rosado and senior Sarah Sullivan (assisted by Charlotte McGuire) both scored to extend Amherst's lead. 
 
* Overall, the match marked a positive start to the season for the Mammoths, and there were some strong debut performances for the first-years on the team. Amherst now has a 19-5-1 historical record against Springfield (since November 1, 2000). 
 


BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* Amherst begin the season at #18 in the United Soccer Division III Coaches' Preseason Poll rankings. Amherst's win gives the team a 1-0-0 overall record for the season.

* The Mammoths have just two days to recover and prepare for their next game - on Saturday, they will play their NESCAC opener versus the #23 Middlebury College Panthers. The game will take place at Hitchcock Field at 12pm.