AMHERST, Mass. (Sept. 29, 2010) – Sophomore forward Katie McMahon scored the lone goal in the 50th minute to push the Amherst College field hockey team to a 1-0 triumph over Mount Holyoke College this evening at Gooding Field. With the win, the Lord Jeffs ran their streak to three. They entered the contest ranked 18th in the latest NFHCA Division III National Poll.
Amherst took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity to record the winner with just over 20 minutes remaining in regulation. McMahon got the play started with an injection to junior forward Crissy Cantore, whose initial attempt was turned away by a Melissa Hartley defensive save. McMahon then gathered the loose ball and lifted a shot into the cage from the left side. It was her team leading fourth tally of the season.
Mount Holyoke's two best chances each resulted in defensive saves by the Lord Jeffs. The first came in the waning minutes of the first half, when junior defender Stephanie Clegg stopped a shot off the stick of first year forward Stephanie Slysz. Junior defender Sarah McCarrick then stopped a shot by sophomore forward Angelica Pascual six minutes into the second stanza.
Amherst (4-2, 2-2 NESCAC) outshot the Lyons 22-8 and finished with a 9-6 advantage in penalty corner chances. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Wise made three saves en route to her second shutout of the year. At the other end, junior Katie Gibson made 11 stops for the guests.
Mount Holyoke (4-3, 1-1 NEWMAC) will resume its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) slate on Saturday, when it hosts Wheaton College at 1:00 p.m.
