AMHERST, Mass. --- The Colby College and Amherst College women's soccer teams had a battle of penalty kicks on Saturday, with the Lord Jeffs scoring one more in a 2-1 victory in NESCAC play.
In a game that saw all three goals come on penalty kicks, Amherst sophomore Kathryn Nathan converted a pair of spot shots to power the Lord Jeff win. Su-Lin Del Guercio knocked in Colby's penalty kick.
The Lord Jeffs improve to 5-4-2 overall and remain on top of the NESCAC with a 4-1-2 mark. The Mules fall to 4-4-3 on the year and 0-4-3 in conference play.
Colby's Mari Crommett had the game's first scoring chance in the ninth minute of the first half. On a break down the right side of the Amherst goal box, Crommett's shot was lifted over the near upper corner to deny the Mules an early score.
Amherst caught a break with 25:55 to play in the half, as a Colby defender was whistled for a handball in the box. Nathan, a second-year midfielder, stepped up and buried a hard shot into the lower corner to put Amherst up 1-0.
With 27:19 to play in the second half, the head official called a foul against Amherst at the edge of the Lord Jeff box and rewarded the Mules with a penalty kick of their own. Colby's Su-Lin Del Guercio took the penalty, burying the shot past Amherst goalie Allie Horwitz for the equalizer.
Amherst nearly regained the lead four minutes later, but a Colby defender cleared Elizabeth Ludlow's shot off the line. Kate Sisk tried to punch home the rebound in a scramble in the box, but Colby goalie Jayde Bennett smothered the bid.
With 21:11 remaining, Amherst was awarded the third penalty shot of the day on a delayed foul call. Nathan returned to the penalty spot, putting in her second of the game to put the Jeffs back up 2-1.
The Jeffs finished the game with a 21-9 advantage in shots and a 4-0 edge in corner kicks. Bennett made six saves before leaving the game with an injury. Loni Pisani finished the final 21:13 in net for Colby, making one save. Horwitz ended the game with four saves for the win in net for Amherst.
Colby plays at Husson University on Tuesday in a non-conference game at 3 p.m.
Amherst 2, Colby 1
Colby............... 0 1 - 1
Amherst College..... 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 19:05 AMH Kathryn Nathan Penalty kick
2. 62:42 COLWS10 Su-Lin Del Guercio Penalty kick
3. 68:47 AMH Kathryn Nathan Penalty kick
Shots: Colby 9, Amherst College 21; Corner kicks: Colby 0, Amherst 4. Saves: Colby 7 (Jayde Bennett, 68:47, 6 saves; Loni Pisani, 21:13, 1 save); Amherst College 4 (Allie Horwitz, 90:00, 4 saves).
