MEDFORD, Mass. – After battling back from a two-goal deficit to tie the match 2-2 at halftime, a goal two minutes into the final quarter ended the Amherst College field hockey team's NESCAC Tournament quest as the Mammoths fell 3-2 against No. 5 Tufts University Saturday afternoon at Ounjian Field in the NESCAC quarterfinals.
Amherst leveled to an 8-8 overall record and a 4-6 conference record in NESCAC play. Tufts, 14-2 overall and 9-1 in the conference, will continue in the NESCAC Tournament and face Wesleyan in the semifinals. Amherst will await a potential at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on November 9th.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
*The Jumbos got on the board minutes into the contest as first-year Eleanor Helm dribbled toward the left post and sent a backhand shot past sophomore goaltender Kate Grady to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
*Sophomore Katie Savino had the best chance for the Mammoths throughout the rest of the quarter, firing a shot toward the frame in the ninth minute, but the ball slid wide.
*Senior Hannah Biccard and junior Reagan Malo partnered up to extend Tuft's lead to 2-0 five minutes into the second stanza. Biccard possessed on the left side of the circle, then passed across the frame to an awaiting Malo, who quickly tapped the ball in.
*The Mammoth pressed their collective sticks on the gas four minutes later. On the first corner of the game, Junior Maya Harrington slotted to junior Genevieve Caruso at the top of the circle. Caruso's first shot was saved by senior goaltender Lydia Eastburn, but the junior pounced upon the rebound and poked the ball past the goaltender to close the gap to 2-1.
*Less than three minutes later, a brilliant connection between sophomore Emily Huehn and sophomore Caroline Busler saw the ball travel pole to pole on a long pass threaded by Huehn. Busler received the ball at the top of the circle and wove around two defenders before firing into the net, equalizing the game at 2-2.
*The Amherst defensive unit strengthened in the final five minutes of the second quarter to keep the game level, blocking a penalty corner set piece and riding a vital save from junior goaltender Grace Puchalski.
*The third quarter was a defensive affair as neither team had a shot on goal. The only shot of the period, fired by Biccard, was blocked in the fourth minute.
*Malo notched the eventual game-winner for Tufts in the second minute of the fourth quarter on a two-corner sequence. While the first saw a strong save from Puchalski, Malo was equal to it on the second, receiving the ball in front of the goal and turning to connect with the net and edge Tufts past Amherst 3-2.
*Down but not out, Amherst battled for chances throughout the rest of the match. While Amherst's defense turned down 6 Jumbo shots in the final ten minutes, first-year Emma Zhang sent the ball toward the goal on a corner, but the attempt was saved by Eastburn.
BY THE NUMBERS:
*Tufts held an offensive advantage, leading 14-6 in shots and 4-2 in corners taken. Both teams had 5 shots on goal.
*Biccard fired the most shots of any player, shooting 4. Off the Amherst bench, Busler and Caruso shared for the most shots with 2 each.
*Eastburn made 3 saves across 60 minutes, Puchalski made 2 saves across 34 minutes, and Grady made 0 saves across 22 minutes.
