AMHERST, Mass. -- The #2-ranked Amherst College women's hockey team erupted for five unanswered goals over the final two periods to pull away from Wesleyan and secure a convincing 6–2 victory at Orr Rink Saturday afternoon.
Bea Flynn scored two goals and added an assist to help the Mammoths improve to 11-1-3 on the season, while the Cardinals fell to 2-12-2. Sunday's schedule contest between the two teams has been postponed and will e played Tuesday night at 7, back at Orr.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
The opening period was fast-paced and physical, with both teams creating chances but leaving the scoreboard empty. Wesleyan tested Stott early with shots off the rush, but the Amherst netminder was steady from the outset, tracking pucks through traffic and denying multiple point-blank attempts. At the other end, Amherst generated consistent pressure, with looks from Natalie Fu, Ayla Abban, Emily Hohmann, and Bea Flynn, but Wesleyan goalie Jenna Guglielmi stood tall to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Special teams played a role early, as both sides traded power-play opportunities in the first period. Amherst moved the puck well with the advantage but was unable to convert, while its penalty kill responded with disciplined coverage and strong shot blocking to maintain the 0–0 deadlock heading into intermission.
The game opened up in the second period. Amherst broke through at 2:00 with a power-play goal from Emily Hohmann, who finished a setup from Alejandra Ubarri and Malaya Anaba for her first goal of the season. Wesleyan answered quickly, tying the game at 3:20 on a goal from Caroline Kee, but Amherst responded with poise and urgency.
At 4:47, Annabel Raffin restored the lead for the Mammoths, converting a feed from Marie-Eve Marleau and Ubarri to make it 2–1. Wesleyan once again pushed back, tying the game at 11:14 on a goal by Dylan Green, setting the stage for a decisive stretch by Amherst.
The Mammoths seized control late in the period. Bea Flynn scored twice in a span of just over five minutes, first at 13:36 and again at 19:17, both off assists from Maeve Reynolds. The pair of goals gave Amherst a 4–2 lead heading into the third and shifted momentum firmly in its favor.
Amherst carried that momentum into the final frame and quickly put the game out of reach. At 7:00, Reynolds found the back of the net herself, finishing a play set up by Flynn and Marleau to extend the lead to 5–2. The Mammoths continued to dominate possession, rolling all four lines and generating consistent offensive-zone time.
With just over four minutes remaining, Amherst capitalized on another power-play opportunity. Malaya Anaba scored her first goal of the season at 15:51, finishing a sequence created by Raffin and Ubarri to make it 6–2. The goal capped a complete offensive performance and highlighted Amherst's efficiency with the man advantage.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Stott closed out the game with confidence, turning aside 19 shots and limiting second chances as Amherst tightened defensively in the final minutes. The Mammoths also controlled the faceoff circle throughout the contest, led by Reynolds and Raffin, helping dictate tempo and sustain pressure.
