The Amherst women’s ice hockey team has put together an up-and-down start to its season as the Mammoths closed their first week of action with a record of 2-2-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the NESCAC.

In Amherst first contest of the season, Conn. College took an early lead on a power-play goal after only three minutes and 12 seconds had expired in the first period. The rest of the first period and the entirety of the second frame elapsed without any scores, meaning the Camels entered the final stanza with a 1-0 lead. However, junior Miriam Eikhoff gave the Mammoths some momentum in the third period with a tally that tied the game at one goal apiece, as she notched Amherst’s first goal of the season off of a pass from senior stud Alex Toupal.

Maintaining their newfound offensive pressure, the Mammoths managed to take their first lead of the game just minutes later with a goal from junior Katelyn Pantera. Conn. College swiftly struck back with an equalizer, and the teams remained deadlocked until a last-second offensive rush gave the Camels the game-winning goal, leaving Amherst to walk away with a 3-2 defeat.

Unfortunately, Conn. College continued where it had left off the next day, posting a 2-0 win over the Mammoths. In spite of a dominating edge in shots that saw the Mammoths ending 34-19 overall, the Camels still managed to walk away with a series sweep.

Just a few days later, Amherst managed to overcome thess early setbacks with a decisive 4-0 victory over Manhattanville College. In the contest, right wing Emma Griese ’18 opened up the scoring thanks to an assist from Eickhoff halfway through the first period. For the rest of the stanza, the Mammoths managed to kill several Valiants powerplays, holding a strong defensive line.

In the beginning of the second period, Jocelyn Hunyadi ’19 notched the second goal of the game off of a pass from Pantera on a power play opportunity following a cross-checking call on Manhattanville. Less than a minute later, first-year Mia DelRosso recorded the first point of her collegiate career with an impressive unassisted tally.

Fellow first-year Emma Flynn closed out the game’s scoring near the end of the second period off of another assist from Toupal. Amherst outshot the Valiants 41-34 and thoroughly dominated Manhattanville in all facets of the game.

The Mammoths returned to the ice at the end of Thanksgiving break to beat New England College in their first home game of the season. Griese provided an early edge for the hosts, with a goal assisted by Pantera. Second to strike for the Mammoths was Eickhoff off of an assist from sophomore Sarah Melanson. Jamie McNamara ’19 posted an unassisted goal to put the hosts up 3-0 before the break.

Toupal then scored the next two Amherst goals to open the second period, before earning an assist on Flynn’s goal, which put the Mammoths up 6-0. Although the Pilgrims managed to pull one goal back, Toupal completed her one-period hat trick with just over two minutes remaining in the second period. Before the day was out, sophomore Eliza Laycock netted the final goal to give Amherst an 8-1 win.

The Mammoths will next take to the ice at Trinity on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.