AMHERST, MA – An overtime goal made by Gretchen Dann skated the #6 Amherst College women's hockey team to a 1-0 win over the Hamilton College Continentals at Orr Rink Saturday afternoon.
The Mammoths' celebrated their six seniors before the game: Alyssa Xu, Maggie Groszek, Julia Weiss, Anna Baxter, Kaila Bush and Kelsey Stewart.
With the win, the Amherst women's ice hockey team concluded their regular season with an 18-5-1 overall and an 11-4-1 record in the NESCAC. With its 33.5 points, Amherst has secured the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC tournament.
The Mammoths open the tournament on Saturday, Mar. 1st, against 8th-seeded Williams. The time has yet to be announced.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The game was scoreless after the opening 20 minutes.
- Hamilton's Lisa Ito-Bagshaw stole the puck by Amherst's left face-off circle and skated toward the Mammoth's net to look for a centering pass for Katie Allen to receive by the crease. Allen tapped the puck, aiming for the back of the net, but Stott made the diving save to stop the play with 11:38 remaining in the second period.
- A centering pass from Maeve Reynolds to Ayla Abban in the slot set the Mammoth's up for a dangerously close opportunity for a late second-period goal. After Abban received the puck, she slipped it to her right for Marie-Eve Marleau to fire a shot at net that Continental goaltender Evie Sheridan saved with 3:36 remaining.
- By the boards behind Hamilton's net, Amherst's Baxter slipped the puck to Reynolds, who then passed back to Dann by the left point for a wrist shot towards the net that Marleau deflected into the pads of Sheridan. Reynolds went for the lifted shot off the rebound, but Sheridan shut down the play for a clear out with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
- Skating into the Mammoths' zone, Continental Coura Sullivan sent a pass that Amherst's Dann intercepted and used the boards to pass to Emily Hohmann. Hohmann quickly redirected the puck for Dann to skate onto and towards Hamilton's right face-off circle. Dann ripped the shot, earning the Mammoths' first and final goal with 2:24 remaining in overtime.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Hamilton out shot Amherst 30-29.
- Amherst went 0-1 on power plays, and Hamilton went 0-2.
- The Mammoths won 29 of the 46 face-offs, with Baxter winning 14 of the 16 she took.
- In goal, Natalie Stott saved all 30 shots faced on the net. Bush appeared in goal but did not face any opposing shots.
