Amherst women’s lacrosse team had a perfect record this past week, going 2-0 against their respectable Mount Holyoke and Williams opponents. The purple and white currently hold the No. 8 ranking nationally with an overall record of 11-2 while they prepare for their last regular season game away against Trinity on Wednesday, April 27.
Amherst gave its fans an exceptional performance Wednesday evening when they trounced Mount Holyoke, walking away with a result of 18-4. The purple and white displayed their winning ability early in the first half with a lead of 4-1 only eight minutes into the game behind two goals from Rachel Passarelli ’16.
As the game progressed Amherst kept their foot on the gas pedal. Before reaching intermission, the purple and white were able to rack up eight more goals from five different players, attesting to the team’s depth.
Senior Devin O’Connor led the march with one goal midway through the first half. Kelly Karczweski ’18 made her mark with two goals one off a free position shot. Mary Grace Cronin ’18 struck twice during the course of that first half. Julia Crerend ’18 matched Cronin with two of her own.
Claire Cagnassola ’17 was able to make her contribution before time was called off a feed from Mia Haughton ’16, allowing Amherst to enter the second half with a comfortable lead at 12-3.
The second half proved to be a showing of that same determination and team cohesion. Cagnassola earned two more goals for the purple and white one of which was assisted by Crerend. With time running out, Karczewski made the final blow with a goal assisted by Haughton. Three first-years, Sabrina Solow, Haley Henriksen and Lindsay Call, scored their first collegiate goals in this contest.
In the defensive half of the field, O’Connor won four ground balls and Haughton caused two turnovers. Christy Forrest ’16 played the first half in net, while Kyra Gardner ’18 and Katie Savage ’19 each played in the second to secure a team shutout.
Following the impressive win against Mount Holyoke, the purple and white traveled to Williams for NESCAC play on Saturday, April 23. Both sides fought hard during the course of the game, but Amherst was able to secure the win in overtime.
The battle for the lead was well fought and was not easily claimed by one side over the other. Passarelli and Hanna Krueger ’17 acted first to obtain a 2-0 lead four minutes into the matchup. However, this advantage did not last long. Williams quickly answered with three consecutive goals from Natalie Gill, Katie Gallop and Anna Rehfuss.
Shortly after, at the eight-minute mark, Crerend tied up the game at 3-3. With a strong presence by Forrest in the net, the purple and white were able to finish the half on even playing ground with the Ephs.
Amherst came flying out the gates to claim a two-goal advantage just six minutes into the second half. Williams’ Emma Tenbarge was not prepared to give up with so much time left in the game. Determined to break through the Amherst defense, she was able to diminish the deficit by one.
Amherst fired back immediately. Haughton scored her second of the game to lift the purple and white to 6-4. After some back and forth between the two sides, Amherst reached an 8-5 advantage with less than 14 minutes to play.
To make things exciting for the crowd on their senior day, Williams scored four unanswered goals and were 21 seconds away from snatching the victory. A Karczewski goal with four seconds left, however, sent the game into extra time.
Entering overtime, the purple and white were confident that the outcome of the game would result in their favor. Haughton, once again, overcame Williams’ goalie Margaret Draper and won the game with a mere minute and ten seconds left on the clock. With nerves involuntarily shaking, the game end at a score of 10-9.
The purple and white will face the Trinity for the final game of their regular season on Wednesday, April 27.
