The Amherst women’s hockey team has had a demanding and successful string of games over the past month, compiling an impressive record of 9-3-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the NESCAC.

Just before break, the No. 9 Jeffs took on No. 4 Norwich Univ. and lost a heartbreaker 4-3 after conceding a goal with just 1:47 left in regulation.

“It was our fourth game in nine days, all against top ten teams… I believe it could have gone either way, and despite the tough 4-3 loss, our squad will be better for it in the long run,” Coach Matthews noted.

So far, the Jeffs have proven Matthews right, amounting a 5-1-1 record over interterm. The team returned to action and started 2014 on a positive note against Holy Cross on Jan. 4.

Sophomore defenseman Caroline Bomstein netted her first career goal. Then, Lynndy Smith ’17 scored the go-ahead goal with 7:47 remaining in regulation. Emily Flom ’15 capped off the scoring with an empty-netter in the 3-1 victory for the Jeffs. Kerri Stuart ’14 made 18 stops to earn the win.

Next, the purple and white shut out SUNY Cortland, 4-0. The first two goals came from the efforts of a pair of sophomores, when Erin Martin ’16 opened up the scoring, before Eileen Harris’ ’16 breakway doubled Amherst’s lead.

Sara Culhane ’17 capped off the scoring with two goals, scoring on a deflection on Smith’s shot then a shot late in the game over the shoulder of the Cortland goaltender. Yuna Evans ’17 made seven stops to earn her first career victory.

The Jeffs continued their winning streak with a two-game sweep over Colby. In their first victory, Stuart made 29 stops and four different Jeffs tallied goals. Madeline Tank ’15 deflected a Caitlyn Ryan ’17 shot to put the Jeffs on the board; next, Flom buried what would be the game-winner off a rebound from a Tank shot.

The second match-up against Colby proved closer. Ryan and Salmon buried first period goals, but after a scoreless second period, Colby fought back with a third period goal. However, Stuart recorded 14 saves to preserve the win.

The subsequent two match ups were against NESCAC foe No. 2 Middlebury. In the thrilling weekend, the first game brought a loss for the Jeffs and gave Middlebury the sole number one spot in the NESCAC.

After Amherst conceded a goal in the first period, Salmon netted her seventh goal of the season to tie the game up just 19 seconds into the second period. The goal came off Martin’s then team-high eighth assist of the season. Middlebury closed out the second period with the game-winning goal. The Jeffs commanded the third period, outshooting Middlebury 16 to 3. This effort, combined with Stuart’s 13 stops, would still not be enough to lift Amherst over Middlebury in this matchup.
Game two brought even more excitement that ultimately resulted in a 5-5 overtime tie. Middlebury netted the first goal of the game, only to quickly be met with a Salmon equalizer from Martin. This was followed by another connection between the successful duo as Martin put the puck away and Salmon gathered the assist this time.

After Middlebury evened out the score 2-2, Salmon scored again, before the Jeffs conceded two more goals to fall behind 4-3. Tank took the reigns and evened out the score, and after another Middlebury goal, Salmon topped off the scoring by completing the hat trick. Salmon’s strong scoring performance paired with Stuart’s 14 saves kept the Jeffs neck in neck with Middlebury all the way through overtime.

In their most recent matchup, the Jeffs beat Nichols 4-0. Salmon continued her scoring streak with 2 goals in the victory.
Barrett McBride ’14 and Smith contributed to the scoring as well, while Salmon now has amassed a team-high 12 goals this season. Against Nichols, Martin recorded another helper amassing her team-high 10th assist.

Looking ahead on the season, the team will face Norwich again before heading into a series of NESCAC games against Conn. College, Williams, Trinity and Bowdoin.

“Hopefully our team will keep up the good work and continue to get better over the next few weeks, as these NESCAC games are crucial for postseason play,” Hayley Opperman ’14.

“Moving forward, every game is huge for league and national ramifications, and there is not a single team we can take lightly,” coach Matthews added.

Matthews has a positive outlook for the remainder of the season and is confident the team can continue to progress.
“We are simply trying to improve with each game and practice, and Coach Gallinaro and I are happy with where we are at. Now the challenge is to keep building on our success thus far, and to stay together with the common goal in mind of being the best team we can be, and improving more than any other team in our league from Day One until the end of the season.”
Amherst will look to rebound after losing 2-1 to #4 Norwich Tuesday night.