CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Amherst College junior Justine Liguori scored a first-quarter goal Wednesday night and sophomore goalkeeper Grace Pulchalski made sure it stood up, making six saves as the #9-ranked Amherst College field hockey team edged #15-ranked M.I.T., 1-0, at Jack Barry Stadium.

The Mammoths improved to 5-2 with the victory while M.I.T. fell to 4-3 on the season. Amherst is at #12-ranked Bates Saturday for an 11 a.m. conference match-up. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Late in the first quarter, the Mammoths were awarded a penalty corner. Maya Harrington inserted the ball and Liguori corralled a bouncing ball in the arc and redirected to the far post with 3:29 left in the opening frame or a 1-0 lead. 

* Pulchalski was on her game from the start, stopping two shots by M.I.T's Bailey McIntyre just prior to Liguori's third goal of the season. In the second quarter, she stopped Ashley Lederman's shot off a penalty corner opportunity to keep the score 1-0 at the half.

* Amherst almost added an insurance goal in the 55^th minute. During a breakaway, junior Molly Donegan sent a pass from the near side to Chloe Agopian who dribbled into the middle of the arc. However, MIT sophomore goalie Maeve Zimmer came off her line and stopped the attempt.

* During the final 1:33 of regulation, the Engineers were awarded five penalty corners but they could not generate the tying goal.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst held a 12-7 edge in shots, and a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.

* M.I.T. held a 11-9 edge in penalty corners, 7-2 in the final quarter.