BRUNSWICK, Maine – A hot start by the Polar Bears proved too much to overcome for the Mammoths, as the No. 18 Amherst College field hockey suffered their first loss of the season, 6-2 to No. 15 Bowdoin Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field.

With the setback, the Mammoths fall to 1-1 on the year and to 0-1 in league play, while Bowdoin improves to 2-0 overall (1-0 NESCAC). Amherst returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 8 when they travel to top-ranked Middlebury for a 11 a.m. bout.

Striking twice in the ninth minute, the Polar Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Emma Stevens netted two quick scores for Bowdoin. Making the most of a fast break, Stevens tapped in a dish from Kara Finnerty at the 9:09 mark before striking once again 22 seconds later. 

Elizabeth Growney made it 3-0 at the 13:21 mark as she corralled a bouncing ball that deflected off the stick of a defender and sent a shot into the bottom left corner before Stevens netted a hat trick on a redirect following an impressive individual effort by Finnerty to get to the middle of the field.

Getting Amherst on the board with 13:59 on the clock in the first half, Beth Williamson '22 recorded her first collegiate goal with a helper from Anna Agathis '21 off a corner opportunity. Set up at the top of the circle, Williamson stopped Agathis' insertion pass and blasted a shot past the outstretched goalie.

Responding 2:51 into the second half, Bowdoin extended their lead to 5-1 behind a score from Finnerty.

Tallying what stood as the Mammoths' final goal in the 50th minute, Franny Daniels '21 set the score at 5-2 after a stellar defensive effort and pass by Emery Sorvino '19. Lined up for a restart inside Polar Bears territory, Sorvino picked off a clearing attempt by Bowdoin and sent a great leading pass to Daniels all alone behind the defense who tipped the ball past the diving keeper. 

The final score of the contest came at the 59:15 mark, as Bowdoin capped off the 6-2 win with a goal from Abby Bashaw.

BY THE NUMBERS

• In goal, Katie Savage '19 (1-1) made eight saves in the losing effort for Amherst, while Maddie Ferrucci (2-0) recorded 10 stops in the win for the Polar Bears.
• Bowdoin owned a slight edge in shots, 21-19, while Amherst owned the advantage in penalty corners, 8-4.
• Daniels and Williamson led the Mammoths offense with three shots on target each.
• Stevens led Bowdoin with three goals on four shots on frame, while Elizabeth Bennewitz registered a defensive save.