Amherst field hockey stops Mules

WATERVILLE, Maine --- After playing seven one-goal games in the past eight years, Amherst College got the better of Colby College with a 4-1 victory in New England Small College Athletic Conference field hockey play Saturday at Bill Alfond Field.

The teams had played seven straight one-goal games before the Jeffs took a 3-1 win at Amherst a year ago. The two teams were 4-4 against each other over the eight years and Colby had a 3-1 record at home during that time.

Amherst (9-3 overall, 4-3 NESCAC) did only lead by one goal at halftime when Colby's Meryl Poulin (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) scored with just 15 seconds to the break on a penalty stroke.

Amherst had gone up 2-0 when Katie McMahon (Denville, N.J.) got her seventh goal of the season at 14:20 and then Molly Malloy (Stamford, Conn.) scored the first of her two goals on the day at 21:05.

Malloy made it 3-1 with 12:32 left in the game off a pass from McMahon for a 3-1 margin. Elizabeth Schink (Chicago, Ill.) tallied off a penalty corner at 62:19 to close out the scoring.

Emily Vitale (Cheshire, Conn.) stopped seven shots in goal for Amherst. Liz Fontaine (Wilbraham, Mass.) made nine saves in net for Colby (5-6, 1-6).

Amherst 4, Colby 1

Amherst              2#2---4

Colby                     1#0---1

1^st half

A: Katie McMahon (Chrissy Cantore), 14:20

A: Molly Malloy (Carly Leahy), 21:05

C: Meryl Poulin – penalty stroke, 34:45

2^nd half

A: Molly Malloy (Katie McMahon), 57:28

A: Elizabeth Schink (Sarah McCarrick), 62:19

                Shots: Amherst 19, Colby 12. Penalty corners: Amherst 6, Colby 4. Goalies: Emily Vitale (Amherst, 70:00, 1 GA, 7 saves); Liz Fontaine (Colby, 70:00, 4 GA, 9 saves).