BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Senior
Liza Katz and junior
Alyssa Huynh had one goal and two assists each Saturday as the 4th-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team rolled past Maine Maritime in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Div. III Tournament, 5-0.
Amherst improved to 17-1-1 on the season and will face R.I.T. (9-5-5) Sunday at 12:30 p.m. back Hartwell-Rogers Field on the campus of Babson College. The Mariners complete their season at 15-5-1.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst came out on the attack in the first half and that entry paid off with a goal in the 7th minute. Huynh served a ball from the right into the box at the far post that senior
Abby Schwartz settled at her feet, took a touch to the middle and slotted a ball to the back post for a 1-0 Mammoth lead.
* Despite several Amherst chances, it remained 1-0 until the 33rd minute. It was then the Mammoths struck again. After a scramble in the Mariners' box, the ball popped back out and was laid back to
Kate Quigley, who then sent the ball back into the box. Her service bounced through to top of the box at the far side, where
Ally Deegan took a shot that was initially saved before Huynh put the rebound in for the two-goal advantage.
* Only 3:29 later, the Mammoths would make it 3-0. Katz took a quick short corner kick, playing the ball to Huynh at the corner of the 18-yard box. Huynh took a touch and shot, and though her initial shot was saved, the rebound fell right to
Fiona Bernet. Bernet put the ball away from point-blank range to widen the lead to three before the half. Amherst had a 21-2 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes.
* Picking up where they left off, the Mammoths added goals in the 67th and 79th minutes to account for the final score. They held a 23-2 edge in shots over the final stanza.
* After winning a throw in deep in the Mariners' end, Katz received the ball, laid it back to Deegan, who crossed it in. Huynh settled it and took a rocket of a shot that hit the crossbar, with the rebound bouncing into Katz's path. She collected the ball off her chest, then took a hit in the box but followed the play and tapped the ball into the net off the post as she lost her balance.
* Shortly after the fourth goal, the Mariners got their best chance of the game off a free kick after a foul about 30 yards from the Mammoth goal. The resulting shot went over Mammoth keeper
LuLu Fickes but hit the crossbar, but the follow-up header went straight to Fickes and the threat was averted.
* The Mammoth's final goal of the match came five minutes later on beautiful build-up play. Quigley won the ball from the Mariners' forward and laid it back to
Gigi Golden, who found
Halle Hanna to start the counter attack. Hanna played a ball to Huynh in the middle of the field, and Huynh found Katz checking. Katz received the ball on the half-turn and sent a looping ball over the defense that landed at
Carter Hollingsworth's feet. Hollingsworth calmly finished the play to account for the 5-0 final score.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst finished with a 44-4 advantage in shots and took 12 corner kicks while allowing none.
*
Mika Fisher and Fickes split time in goal for Amherst, each playing one half. Fisher had two saves and Fickes one.
