This week in NESCAC matchups, the women’s ice hockey team split a two-game series with Trinity.
The weekend began on Friday when the Jeffs hosted the Bantams and dropped the game 3-2.

Trinity’s Celia Colman-McGaw got things started in the first, tacking on the team’s first at 9:30 with an unassisted goal.
Trinity capitalized on an Amherst penalty when Macauly Bauer scored off of Payson Sword’s assist.

While Amherst showered the goal with a flurry of shots at the end of the first, Trinity’s goalkeeping came up big, leaving Amherst down by two at the end of the period.

Amherst’s Kerri Stuart ’14 also came up big several times throughout the game and, despite the loss, made 21 saves on the day.
“They came out flying and put two quick goals in the net,” Steph Clegg ’12 reflected. “Going into the second, down by two goals, we knew we had to climb back one goal at a time.”

At the end of the second period, senior tri-captain Emily Vitale went on the offensive by notching Amherst’s first, assisted by Megan Doyen ’13 and Josie Fisher ’12.

Amherst pushed ahead, mounting several attacks in an attempt to tie the score. First-year Emily Flom delivered with less than three minutes left in the game, rebounding sophomore Ashley Salerno’s shot into the back of the net.

Despite Amherst’s growing momentum, Trinity answered quickly: Bauer contributed her second goal of the game to steal the win.

Amherst returned to the ice the next day with new energy, taking the second game 2-1.

“Our game on Saturday was much better, and we were especially excited to win for our seniors on their Senior Day,” Flom noted. “The six seniors have been amazing teammates, mentors and friends to all of us. We really wanted to play well for them and get the win.”

The Jeffs came out aggressively and eventually notched one at 9:49 when Geneva Lloyd ’13 ripped a shot off from the blue line past Trinity goalie Alexa Pujol on a power play.

Barrett McBride cushioned Amherst’s lead at 14:50, assisted by Kaitlyn McInnis ’13 and Vitale.

While Trinity attempted a comeback in the second period when Samantah Edelson scored six minutes in, Amherst’s defense held fast. Sinead Murphy ’12 had 13 saves in the win.

“I think we realized that we’re wearing the target on our backs, and every team is gunning to beat us.” Clegg commented. “We realized that every team is going to give us their best effort because we’re a true test of a hard-working, relentless team.”

With the win, Amherst moved to 18-4-0 (12-2-0 NESCAC) and looks forward to traveling to Bowdoin next weekend for their final regular season games. The Jeffs will need two wins and plenty of goals this weekend to take the No. 1-seed from Middlebury.