AMHERST, Mass. -- An 81st minute goal from Patience Kum allowed the 4th-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team to rally past Bowdoin, 2-1, on Hitchcock Field Sunday and claim its second consecutive NESCAC Tournament championship.

It's the first back-to-back championships in program history and the seventh NESCAC title overall for AWS. 

This win improves the Mammoths record to 16-1-1 on the season and positions them to be a high seed in the NCAA tournament beginning next Saturday with the bracket being announced on Monday during the NCAA Div. III Women's Soccer Selection Show at 1:30 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

*  In the first 20 minutes of play, Amherst had eight strong attempts to goal, including a great attack which was narrowly offside in the second minute. Also notable, a shot by sophomore Brooke Ingemi off a cross from Precious Novidzro whipped in from the left side. Bowdoin's keeper Charlotte Iannone was forced to make a big save to deflect Ingemi's shot.  

* The Mammoths held the momentum for another 10 minutes, but numerous offside calls began to take the wind out of their sails. The momentum continued to shift toward the Polar Bears after a foul by Amherst at the top of their defensive 18 gave Bowdoin a free kick. Greta Farkas, senior captain for Bowdoin, capitalized on the opportunity, sending the ball sailing into the top left corner of the goal. 

* The Mammoths responded immediately, hoping to equalize before halftime, but they could not get a shot on goal before the half ended. 

*To open the second half, both teams came out fiercely, and Bowdoin held their lead for nine minutes before Alyssa Huynh received the ball from Liza Katz on the flank and drove a cross into the box for Abby Schwartz to get her head around. She finished it in the top left corner and after being knocked to the ground from the impact, the team joined her and dogpiled to celebrate the equalizer. 

* Bowdoin nearly regained the lead with 16:28 remaining when Laila Nickelson headed a cross into the box to the feet of Cadence Lee, who had a 1 v. 1 opportunity with Mamoth goalkeeper Mika Fisher. It was Fisher who came up huge, diving to her right to snare Lee's low shot and keep the game tied. 

* In the 81st  minute, junior Fiona Bernet sent a floated ball down the center of the field, and into the path of a running Patience Kum. Kum found herself with a split second to touch the ball around Iannone and a defender, and take a left footed strike into an open net for the game winner. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst had 12 shots in the game with 5 on frame, while Bowdoin took 6 shots, finding the frame two of those times.  Fisher made 2 saves for Amherst. Iannone stopped 4 for the Polar Bears. 

* The Mammoths had 4 corner kicks to 2 for Bowdoin. 

* There were two yellow cards issued to Bowdoin during the match– Greta Farkas earned one in the 44th minute, and Ella Olcese got hers in the 49th.