GRANTHAM, PA. -- The 4th-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team saw its season come to an end Saturday as it allowed three goals in a game for only the season time in the 2023 season and fell to sectional host Messiah College, 3-1, in the Div. III NCAA Tournament Round of 16.
The Mammoths finished their season 18-2-1. It was the second consecutive season they saw their season conclude in the NCAA Round of 16.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* The Mammoths, has been their want in this NCAA Tournament, came out on fire, outshooting Messiah 5-1 over the first 16 minutes. In the 17th minute, midfielder
Sierra Rosado had a low shot toward the bottom right corner that Falcon goalkeeper Ava Wert made a stop on.
* After that beginning stretch, play moved toward the midfield with the Falcons earning corner kicks in the 14th and 22nd minutes. The second corner was earned off a misplayed clearance by the Mammoths. Messiah took advantage of the opportunity, putting a delivery into the box. Mammoth keeper
Mika Fisher got a hand on the initial delivery, but an Amherst defender touched the ball in the direction of
Kaitlyn Laird. Wasting no time, Laird hit home the first goal of the game from point-blank range for a 1-0 Messiah lead with 23:11 remaining in the half.
* With 15 minutes left, Mammoth defender
Ella Johnson tied things up with her first goal of the season. Shooting from the left side of the box with almost no angle, Johnson's shot went into the right-side netting
* Immediately after the restart,
Kaitlyn Laird ripped a low shot from distance that required a diving save from Fisher.
* Messiah regained the lead in the 38th minute.
Jenna Skurcenski sent a long ball forward from the midfield stripe toward a streaking
Brittany Laird. With defenders on either side of her, Laird entered the top of the box and had just enough time and space to sneak a shot inside the left post for a 2-1 lead.
* Just 2:03 into the second half, Messiah was awarded a penalty kick after a hand ball call in the box off a corner kick opportunity. Kristina Akselsen converted the boot for the two-goal advantage.
* The two-goal lead brought a renewed sense of urgency from the Mammoths. Across the second half, Amherst out shot the Falcons 9-6, putting four shots on frame against three from the Falcons.
* In the 60th minute, the Mammoths had back-to-back scoring chances, but shots by
Ally Deegan and
Alyssa Huynh ticketed for the lower left corner were stopped by Wert.
* In the 70th minute the Mammoths did it again, but this time Wert saves shots from
Fiona Bernet and
Alyssa Huynh.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst finished with a 16-11 advantage in shots, although Messiah led in shots on goal, 7-6. The Falcons held a 6-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
* Fisher finished with 4 saves for the Mammoths, Wert 5 for Messiah.
