BRUNSWICK, ME -- The #2-ranked Amherst College women's hockey tram used a strong first period, disciplined defensive play, and a late empty-net goal to secure a 3–1 victory over Bowdoin in a hard-fought NESCAC matchup Friday night.
The Mammoths came out sharp from the opening face-off, setting the tone with pace and physicality while establishing early offensive-zone time. Amherst generated the first quality chances of the game, forcing Bowdoin goaltender Abby Matusovich into action just over a minute in, while Natalie Stott answered calmly at the other end when Bowdoin tested her early.
Amherst broke through midway through the opening period while skating on the power play. At 6:42, Gretchen Dann opened the scoring, finishing a setup from Maeve Reynolds and Marie-Eve Marleau to give the Mammoths a 1–0 lead. The goal rewarded Amherst's early pressure and marked Dann's first tally of the season.
The Mammoths continued to press after the opening goal, rolling lines and maintaining possession through the neutral zone. Their persistence paid off again late in the period. At 15:11, Junfei (Tammy) Zhu doubled the lead, finishing a play created by Sami Lester and Carlisle Brush. Amherst entered the first intermission with a 2–0 advantage after outshooting Bowdoin and limiting the Polar Bears to few high-quality looks.
Bowdoin responded early in the second period, cutting into the deficit just over three minutes in. At 3:12, Luna Lu found the back of the net off an assist from Meghan Britt to make it a 2–1 game and shift momentum briefly in Bowdoin's favor.
The remainder of the second period featured end-to-end play, with Amherst pushing to regain control while Bowdoin increased its physical presence. Amherst earned multiple power-play opportunities but was unable to convert, as Matusovich made several key saves to keep the Polar Bears within one. At the other end, Stott remained composed, tracking shots cleanly and controlling rebounds to preserve Amherst's slim lead heading into the third.
The final period tested Amherst's defensive resolve. The Mammoths were forced to kill extended penalty time early in the frame, including a five-minute major, and Bowdoin generated sustained pressure with the extra skater. Amherst's penalty kill stood tall, blocking shots and clearing the zone repeatedly, while Stott made a series of timely saves to prevent the equalizer.
As the clock wound down, Amherst settled back into its structure, limiting Bowdoin's chances and forcing shots from the perimeter. With Bowdoin pulling its goalie in the final minute, Amherst sealed the win. At 19:33, Natalie Fu scored an empty-net goal to secure the 3–1 victory and put the game out of reach.
Stott finished the afternoon with a steady performance in net, anchoring a defensive effort that proved decisive in the third period. Amherst's ability to capitalize early, weather pressure late, and execute in critical moments defined the contest.
