SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Amherst College field hockey team put on a hot-shooting showcase Wednesday night as the visitors rode an early lead to produce a 2-1 victory over Western New England University at Golden Bear Stadium.
Amherst rose to 5-4 in the season, while the Golden Bears fell to 7-4 overall. The Mammoths will travel down to face rival Wesleyan University next, who they'll face at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Hicks Field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
*Under two minutes into the contest, Amherst was awarded its first penalty stroke. After the ball was possessed around the circle, first-year
Emma Zhang fired toward the upper left corner, but a diving save from sophomore goaltender Alex Tardugno kept the Mammoths off the scoreboard.
*Amherst's offense heated up with five minutes left in the quarter as junior
Genevieve Caruso wove around WNE's defense and dribbled toward the right post, but a block from Tardugno pushed the ball wide.
*The Mammoths got on the board just three minutes into the second quarter with a downfield drive and cross from first-year
Scarlette Liftin. After knocking through a web of players, the ball fell to the feet of first-year
Bella Kim, who drove the ball into the net to give Amherst a 1-0 lead.
*With four minutes remaining in the stanza, junior
Maya Harrington powered a through-ball from Amherst's half into the stick of Liftin inside the Golden Bears' circle. Tight recovery from sophomore Tessa Ebreo and a challenge from Tardugno ended the first-year's momentum.
*Caruso extended Amherst's lead to 2-0 with ten minutes remaining in the third quarter. The ball passed toward the goal from a Kim drive and found the stick of junior
Dylan Bloom, then Caruso, who tipped the ball home.
*Caruso fired a no-look backhand towards the goal with six minutes remaining in the third, but the ball was kicked to safety by Tardugno.
*The Golden Bears got their first penalty corner of the game in the eighth minute of the final quarter, setting up their first chance of the night. Sophomore Tessa Ebreo slotted in to junior Analise Trani at the wing, who rocketed the ball through a web of players, off the stick of senior Haley Kaczka, and between the posts.
*The Mammoths weathered a heavy storm in the final minutes as WNE wrestled for the equalizer, but a final turnover forced by sophomore
Katie Savino closed the contest 2-1.
BY THE NUMBERS:
*Amherst dominated offensively, leading 27-1 in shots, 9-1 in shots on goal, and 10-1 in penalty corners taken.
*Caruso led with the most shots of any player, shooting 6. Zhang followed close behind her with 5.
*Tardugno made 7 saves against 9 shots faced in 60 minutes of play. Sophomore
Kate Grady made 0 saves against 1 shot faced in 60 minutes.
