AMHERST, Mass. --- The #2-ranked Amherst College women's hockey team skated step for step with #8-ranked Norwich for most of Wednesday evening, but a single second-period goal and a late empty-netter handed the Mammoths a 2–0 loss in a tightly contested defensive battle at Orr Rink.

It was the first loss at Orr Rink in exactly two years for the Mammoths, who went 15-0-0 in 2024-25. Wesleyan defeated Amherst 2-1 on Jan. 21, 2024.

The Cadets improved to 15-2-0 overall, while the Mammoths slipped to 10-1-3 on the season. Amherst is home Saturday against Weselyan for a 3 p.m. contest. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

The opening period set the tone for what would become a low-scoring, physical game. Both teams traded early chances, with Amherst generating pressure off the rush while Norwich countered with sustained offensive zone time. Natalie Stott was sharp from the opening faceoff, turning aside a flurry of early shots and calmly tracking traffic through the slot. Amherst responded with chances of its own, including multiple looks from Bea Flynn and Maeve Reynolds, but Norwich goaltender Madison Brunet stood firm to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.

Amherst earned the game's first power play late in the opening frame, but Norwich's penalty kill held strong, limiting clean shooting lanes and preventing the Mammoths from capitalizing. The first period ended scoreless, thanks mainly to the efforts of Stott, who made three saves in the final 5 seconds that kept the visitors off the scoreboard. With Norwich on the power play with possession in the Amherst zone, Alex Lexi ripped off a shot from the lower left circle that Stott got in front of. The rebound bounced into the slot right on the stick of Olivia Boyer, who snapped off a wrister targeted for the lower left corner of the goal. As time was set to expire Geena Cookinham was on the doorstep nd slid the rebound toward the left corner, but Stott extended her pad to stop the puck as the horn sounded.

The second period saw Amherst push the tempo early, peppering Brunet with several shots from the point and the high slot. Sami Lester, Clare O'Connor, and Gretchen Dann each generated looks, but the breakthrough never came. Norwich eventually seized momentum midway through the period, and at 12:06, Geena Cookinham broke the deadlock, finishing a play set up by Breanna Ricker and Olivia Boyer to give the Cadets a 1–0 lead.

The Mammoths continued to battle after the goal, with Stott keeping the deficit at one by denying several Norwich chances late in the period. Amherst closed the second with renewed offensive pressure, but once again Brunet was equal to the task, preserving Norwich's narrow advantage heading into the final frame.

Amherst came out aggressively in the third period, knowing a single goal could change the game. The Mammoths earned two power-play opportunities, including an early chance after a Norwich tripping penalty, but struggled to convert despite sustained zone time and multiple shot attempts. Gretchen Dann and Bea Flynn each tested Brunet during the advantage, but the Norwich netminder remained composed.

As the clock wound down, Amherst continued to press at even strength, cycling the puck and creating traffic in front of the net. With just under two minutes remaining, Amherst pulled Stott for the extra attacker in a final push for the equalizer. Norwich weathered the pressure and sealed the game at 19:37, when Breanna Ricker found the empty net off a feed from Cookinham and Maggie Hunter, extending the lead to 2–0.

Stott finished with a strong performance in goal, making numerous key saves to keep Amherst within striking distance throughout the contest. Despite being shut out, the Mammoths showed resilience and structure, matching Norwich's intensity for much of the game and generating opportunities until the final horn.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Norwich finish with a 37-25 advantage in shots. Stott finished with a season-high 35 saves. Brunet had 25 to earn the shutout. 

* Norwich held a 33-26 edge in face-off wins. Maeve Reynolds won 11 of 18 face-offs she took on the night for Amherst.