MEDFORD, Mass. – An early goal from senior Molly Donegan and a valiant late push came up short for the No. 21 Amherst College field hockey team, who dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 7 Tufts University on Wednesday evening.
Amherst fell to 5-6 for the season and 2-5 in NESCAC play, while Tufts improved to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference. Up next, the Mammoths will host Smith College on Wednesday, who they'll face at 6:30 p.m. on Hill Field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
*Amherst applied pressure early as junior Katie Kantrovitz sent the ball through a sea of defenders and into the open sprint of Donegan across the cage, before a split-second kick from senior goaltender Lydia Eastburn sent the ball away.
*The Mammoths jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a corner with just under five minutes remaining as Donegan tapped in a feed from first-year Emma Zhang to close first quarter action.
*Tufts tied things up 1-1 in the second minute of the second stanza on a point-blank strike from senior Hannah Biccard. Sophomore goaltender Kate Grady had a beat on the Jumbos' first shot, but Biccard collected the rebound to equalize the contest.
*Grady came up with a strong save seven minutes into the third, punching away a shot that had deflected last-second over the goaltender's head.
*Sophomore Hannah Murray gave the Jumbos their lead seconds later. First-year Eleanor Helm connected with junior Reagan Malo in front of the goal, who tapped the ball back to Murray at the left post for a quick shot into the upper left corner.
*A penalty corner in the sixth minute of the fourth kept Amherst's hopes alive. Junior Maya Harrington inserted to first-year Bella Kim, who rocketed the ball toward the frame, but a save from Eastburn sent the ball off the right post and away.
*Following Amherst's substitution of Grady for an extra offender, a goaltender-less penalty corner extended Tuft's lead to 3-1 in the final minute as junior Claire Casey received the ball at the top of the arch, then fired into the right corner.
BY THE NUMBERS:
*Tufts led offensively with 12 shots, 7 shots on goal, and 4 corners compared to Amherst's 4 shots, 3 shots on goal, and 3 corners.
*Biccard totaled the most shots of any player, firing 4. Off Amherst's bench, Donegan notched the most shots with 2.
*Grady collected 3 saves while Eastburn defended for 2.