AMHERST, Mass. --  Ally Deegan's goal in the 82nd minute was the difference Saturday as the 4th-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team edged Wesleyan University, 1-0, in the NESCAC Tournament semifinals on Hitchcock Field. 

The top seed in the conference tourney, Amherst improved to 15-1-1 on the season and earned a chance to defend its 2022 NESCAC championship. The Mammoths will face Bowdoin Sunday at 12 p.m. back on Hitchcock. The Polar Bears advanced over Williams after the two teams played to a 1-1 tie and went in sudden victory penalty kicks in their semifinal Saturday. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Amherst came out energized and controlled play through the first 15 minutes, creating five scoring opportunities. Inside of the first minute, Patience Kum had a close-range opportunity after receiving a pass from Brooke Ingemi in the box. Her shot aimed at just under the crossbar was snared by Cardinal goalkeeper Molly Brumbach, who 6-foot frame played big all game. 

* Over the next 60 seconds both Kum and Precious Novidzro had decent chances that sailed over the goal. Novidzro had both of the Mammoths' next two shots, one which was blocked and another which was set up by a pinpoint pass from Kum at midfield that sent the rookie forward into the box. Brumbach was able to smother the shot attempt however. 

* The Mammoths did not have another scoring opportunity as Wesleyan slowly stemmed the tide and created its own opportunities. With just over 11 minutes to go in the first half, Wesleyan's Waverly Myers collected a ball at the top left of the box and rocketed a shot that Mammoth goalie keeper Mika Fisher made a diving save off to her left and controlled the rebound. 

* In the early minutes of the second stanza, Audrey Lavy of Wesleyan nearly tied the game after a scrum in the box gave her a point-blank opportunity, but Fisher threw up her hands and snared the ball. 

* As the half wound down, the Mammoths again began to exert pressure on the Cardinals' defense. Alyssa Huynh nearly gave the Mammoths a lead in the 65th minutes but her shot clanged off the top left corner of the goal post.

* Finally, in the 82nd minute, the Mammoths broke through. Halle Hanna sent a crisp through ball into the right side of the Wesleyan box that Kum ran onto and broke in alone 1 v. 1 vs. Brumbach. The goalie dove and stopped the shot with her outstretched hand, but the rebound bounded out to a unmarked Deegan, who calmly placed a shot in the the wide open left side of the goal for the game-winner. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst had an 11-8 advantage in shots, although each team had four shots on goal. Wesleyan held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. 

* Fisher finished with 4 saves and Brumbach 3. 

* Sunday will mark the Mammoths' 10th appearance in the NESCAC Tournament Championship since it began in 2000. The Mammoths have six titles, including 2022, but have never won back-to-back championships.