AMHERST, MA. – A Jessica Lomo brace delivered the No. 6-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team their third win in as many games home on Sunday, Sept. 7. Facing off against five-college opponent Smith on Gooding Field, the Mammoths found their way through a deep-lying Bears defense to seal a 2-1 victory.
The game also served as the team's Youth Day, with the Mammoths welcoming local players from the Amherst Youth Soccer Association to help walk the players onto the pitch. The game also served as a way to honor the memory of former Mammoths Assistant Coach Walker Boyd, who passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer and a rare autoimmune disorder.
With the win, the Mammoths improve to 3-0 this season, while the Bears drop to 0-3. Up next for the Amherst is a battle with their most bitter rivals, Williams, on home turf. The Mammoths will take on the Ephs on Saturday, Sept. 13 to open their home slate of NESCAC games. Kickoff against is set for noon on Hitchcock Field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Just like in their prior two games, the Mammoths controlled the tempo of the game from the start, pinging the ball around Smith players with ease. However, despite a flurry of offensive opportunities and seven first half corners, Amherst could not find the back of the net. Smith goalie Sky Smith was sensational on the day, making 7 of her 9 saves in the first frame and singlehandedly keeping the score level heading into the half.
* The second period saw the Mammoths switch formations in an attempt to create more chances, and that risk paid dividends less than 5 minutes into the half. A beautiful cross-field ball from Katie Pedersen hit Sophia Haynes in stride, and the senior slotted a perfect ball in front of goal for Lomo. The in-form junior made no mistakes, hammering home from close range to give her side a 1-0 lead.
* That lead was short-lived, though, with a defensive lapse on the restart resulting in the Bears leveling just 30 seconds later, quieting the Amherst crowd. But the Mammoths didn't let that moment rattle them for long, resuming their push for goal and again controlling the game.
* More chances came in quick succession, with Pedersen and Lomo putting shots on the board. But, it was Lomo that found the game-winner in the 66th minute. Millie McLeod beat her defender down the right flank and sent a looping cross towards the goalmouth. The cross sailed over the Smith keeper at the front post to a waiting Kate Quigley, who tapped the ball back across goal to Lomo. All the junior had to do was slam the ball into the open net to restore the 1-goal advantage at 2-1.
* The Bears would not threaten for the rest of the match, and despite some dangerous opportunities, including two close-range headers from Abigail Danso and a 25-yard laser from Becca Button that pinged against the crossbar, Amherst was not able to get a third. The final whistle blew and the Mammoths walked away with a 2-1 win.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Lomo's two goals on the day bring her to 3 on the season. Her 7 points (1 assist) paces the team to this point.
* The Mammoths outshot WPI 22-2, including 11-1 in shots on goal, and finished the game leading 9-0 in corner kicks. The Mammoths currently lead the NESCAC with 27 corners earned in 3 games, good for an average of 9 per contest.
* Senior goalie Lulu Fickes made 1 save in 90 minutes of action.
