AMHERST, Mass. - Second-half goals from
Ani Populoh and
Emma Darling were not enough to spark a full comeback as the Amherst College women's soccer team fell in a 3-2 decision to Bowdoin College following a frantic four-goal final 15 minutes Saturday at Hitchcock Field.
The Polar Bears controlled the tempo early, capitalizing on a corner kick in the fifth minute to hold a 1-0 advantage at halftime. Amherst came out after halftime with high energy, taking control of possession and putting Bowdoin on its heels to net an equalizer in the 75th minute. However, Bowdoin answered with two fast goals in a six-minute span.
With the loss, the Mammoths drop to 1-2-0 overall and 0-2-0 in NESCAC play, while Bowdoin moves to 2-1-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the conference. Amherst returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 13, traveling to Northampton, Mass., for a non-conference matchup against Smith College.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Bowdoin broke the deadlock early in the fifth minute. Kendall Hacker delivered a corner kick into the box, where Mary Rainey elevated and put it away to give the Polar Bears an early 1-0 lead.
*Amherst came out firing in the second half and converted its pressure into a goal in the 75th minute. Following a dangerous Mammoth corner kick, the ball popcorned around in traffic before
Ani Populoh deflected it past the keeper into the back of the net to level the score at 1-1.
* Bowdoin answered quickly to reclaim the lead less than two minutes later. Capitalizing on a miscommunication in Amherst's back line, Kayley Huleatt gathered the loose ball and centered it to Eliza Knight Bairstow, who buried her finish to make it 2-1.
* The Polar Bears extended their lead in the 83rd minute off a quick counterattack. Anna Lenschow gathered possession at the top of the 18-yard box and hit a strike into the bottom-left corner to put Bowdoin ahead, 3-1.
* Amherst refused to go away quietly, scoring again in the 88th minute.
Jessica Lomo slid a precise pass into the path of a sprinting
Emma Darling, who hit a one-touch shot past the keeper to bring the Mammoths within one goal at 3-2.
