The Amherst field hockey team faced another setback this weekend, falling 2-1 to the defending national champions, Bowdoin. Despite first-year Caroline Fiore scoring her first collegiate goal, Amherst couldn’t top the Polar Bears and drops to 2-2 on the year and 1-2 in NESCAC competition.
The game was tightly contested, remaining scoreless throughout much of the first half. Bowdoin would open the scoring before the intermission, however, as Rachel Kennedy scored unassisted in the 32nd minute. The Polar Bears carried the 1-0 lead into the break, as well as an 8-3 advantage in shots and a 3-0 advantage in penalty corners.
Kennedy tacked on goal number two just 36 seconds into the second half. This one came off an assist from Adrienne O’Donnell, extending the Bowdoin lead to 2-0.
Amherst mounted a strong comeback in the second half, holding the 4-3 edge in shots and 3-0 advantage in penalty corners. Fiore’s goal came with under five minutes left in the contest. The Jeffs’ efforts fell just short, however, as Bowdoin maintained its one goal lead to finish with the 2-1 win.
“I play defense so having an opportunity to score doesn’t come that often,” said Fiore on scoring her first ever collegiate goal. “I was really happy I got the chance, and then it went in, and I was really excited to have helped the team out.”
Fiore also discussed the team’s morale moving forward.
“These last few games, we have had a little trouble starting with as much intensity as we end with, which led to other teams scoring quickly and catching us on our heels,” she said. “These next few games, I think we are going to really focus on starting strong and keeping up that intensity throughout the entire game. Once we do that and come together, I think we are going to be really great.”
The 12th-ranked Jeffs travel to face Keene State on Wednesday, Sept. 17 before hosting Williams on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. Amherst was victorious in both contests during the 2013 regular season, defeating the Owls by a 3-2 score and downing the Ephs 4-0.
