AMHERST, Mass. – Sarah Duffy '14 (Fairfield, Conn.) netted her fifth goal of the season in the 69th minute as the Amherst College women's soccer team earned a hard-fought 2-0 decision over Bates College in its home opener on Hitchcock Field.

With the win, Amherst (2-0-0/1-0-0 NESCAC) improved to 16-4-3 all-time against the Bobcats with a 12-0-3 mark since 2000, having outscored Bates 38-7 over that span.

Looking to get  the Jeffs off to a quick start, Duffy found an open Amanda Brisco (Houston, Texas) in the fourth minute with a cross into the middle of the box, but the standout sophomore forward pushed the game's first scoring chance just over the bar, narrowly missing a chance to put Amherst ahead.

Outshooting Bates 8-3 over the next 15 minutes of action, the Lord Jeffs again threatened in the 20th minute, drawing a foul in the attacking third. Senior co-captain Jill Kochanek (Pittsburgh, Pa.) would track down the ensuing free-kick, heading it toward the Bates net, but the shot rattled off the post to keep things scoreless.

A persistent Amherst offense continued to stay aggressive for the remainder of the frame, registering six more shots, but the Bates backline held steady, anchored by senior goalkeeper Annie Burns (Topsfield, Mass.) who made four first half saves.

Still searching for their first score in the 62nd minute, Allison Dorey '12 (San Francisco, Calif.) sent a lofty cross from the right to Mel Stier '15 (Deerfield, Mass.) on the back post. A well-positioned Stier would get a header across the face of the goal, back toward the right post but a diving Burns recovered to make a big save.

Minutes later Jess Wall '12 (Glencoe, Ill.) played a nice through-ball from the midfield ahead to a racing Dufffy on the right side who ripped a low tracer toward net but Burns again proved up to the challenge, turning away the shot. 

After again narrowly missing with a shot high in the 65th minute, Brisco played a ball wide to Dorey near the far corner flag. The Amherst senior co-captain sent a nice cross over the Bates defense, but Stier just missed getting a foot on the pass to redirect it toward net as the Jeffs once again came up empty.

Not to be denied, a determined Amherst side finally broke through at 68:29 on Duffy's fifth goal of the season. Originating in the midfield, Kathryn Nathan '13 played the ball forward to Brisco who would make a nice run down the left side, beating a Bates defender to the ball. Glancing across the pitch, Brisco sent a low cross into the box, finding a charging Duffy who footed the volley past Burns into the left side of the Bobcat net.

Buoyed by their first score, the Lord Jeffs struck again in the 83rd minute with Kochanek heading a Nathan corner-kick into the right side of the goal for the game's second tally. 

Hoping to keep pace with the clock winding down, the Bobcats' Tina Tobin '12 very nearly pulled Bates back within one, heading a ball toward the left post, but Amherst's Allie Horwitz (Woodbridge, Conn.) ranged to her right, making a sprawling stop to preserve the Jeffs' two-goal margin and seal the victory.

With Amherst holding a decisive 34-12 edge in shots, Burns finished with 13 saves, while Horwitz made four stops en route to her second win.

The Lord Jeffs return to action on Sunday, Sept. 18 against Middlebury at 2 p.m. on Hitchcock Field