AMHERST, MA. —
Ani Populoh found the back of the net in the 55th minute and
Corina Bellermann made it hold up with a three-save shutout as the Amherst College women's soccer team slipped past Emerson College, 1-0, on Wednesday evening.
The Mammoths dictated play for most of the night, piling up a 12-3 edge in shots and pinning the Lions in their own end for much of a first half in which Emerson did not register a single attempt. Amherst had to wait until early in the second half to convert that pressure into a goal, but its back line, anchored by full-90 performances from
Pao Monter and
Nell Dwyer, never let the visitors back into it.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
- Amherst controlled the opening 45 minutes, earning six corner kicks and firing six shots while keeping Emerson off the scoresheet entirely. Emma Darling was a constant threat, putting three shots on the night's ledger before halftime and forcing Emerson keeper Addie Costello into a diving stop at the 26:47 mark. Despite the territorial advantage, the teams went into the locker room scoreless.
- The Lions showed more ambition after the break, and Makende Stewart forced Bellermann into action twice in the first nine minutes of the second half, with the Amherst keeper smothering efforts at 46:08 and 53:41.
- The Mammoths broke through on the very next sequence. Darling picked out Populoh, who finished at the 54:39 mark to give Amherst a 1-0 lead it would not relinquish.
- Amherst continued to look for another goal, as Caroline Coletti and Katie Pedersen each tested Costello in the final half hour. At the other end, Bellermann turned aside Kelsea Laughrey's attempt at 71:27, and the Mammoths saw out the final 20 minutes to secure the clean sheet.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Amherst outshot Emerson 12-3 and held a 4-3 edge in shots on goal. All six of Amherst's corner kicks came in the first half; Emerson earned its lone corner in the 58th minute. Darling and Pedersen led the Mammoths with three shots apiece, and Darling's assist on the game-winner was the only helper recorded in the match. Bellermann played all 90 minutes and finished with three saves for the shutout. Costello also went the distance for Emerson, making three saves. Amherst was whistled for nine fouls to Emerson's five, and the teams split four yellow cards evenly, with
Allison Hayes and Pedersen cautioned for Amherst and Abby Cockerill and Kaylin O'Meara for Emerson.
The Mammoth Women improve to 4-4-0.
UP NEXT:
Amherst returns to Hitchcock Field on Saturday, October 3rd, at 12:00 PM to host NESCAC rival Tufts University in the program's annual Pride Game.
