MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Sat., April 11, 2009) -- With junior Charlotte Hastings and sophomore Maggie Lile scoring four goals apiece, Wesleyan (5-7, 2-5 NESCAC) defeated Little Three rival Amherst (6-4, 3-3), 12-5, for the first time since 1994. The win ended an 18-game skid for the Cardinals vs. the Lord Jeffs. Wesleyan last knocked off Amherst on April 23, 1994 by an 11-8 count. Since then, Amherst had rattled off 18 in a row including a pair of one-goal games last year, 9-8 in overtime during the regular season and 8-7 in the NESCAC tournament.

Wesleyan never trailed in the game today as the contest was played in a steady rain with raw conditions. A pair of 4-0 burst by the Cardinals gave the home team a 6-2 lead at the 23:47 mark of the second half and a 10-3 advantage with 11:09 remaining. Thus, Wesleyan scored eight of nine goals after the score was tied 2-2 midway through the first half. Wesleyan and Amherst traded goals in the final nine minutes for the 12-5 final. Sophomore Jess Chukwu started the first four-goal Wesleyan burst with a free-position goal at 8:26 of the first half.

Hastings netted her first goal of the contest on a strong run to net with 6:49 to go before intermission for a 4-2 Wesleyan lead after 30 minutes. Goals by Hastings and sophomore Allie Lynch to open the second period spotted Wesleyan a 6-2 margin. Amherst junior Tyler Tory-Murphy ended the Wesleyan run with her second goal of the contest at 19:36 to make it 6-3 but the Cardinals responded with four goals in a span of 6:47 for a 10-3 bulge. Lile and Hastings both finished their four-goal days by countering Amherst goals from senior Caki Guinee and Christina Hopkins down the stretch.

Amherst top scorer senior Amy Craig, who came into the contest with 30 goals in nine games, was held to one goal and one assist, improving her point total this season to 35. Hastings, who also had an assist for Wesleyan, is tied with junior Erin McCarthy for the team leadership in points as each has 25 with McCarthy leading in goals with 21 as she scored once today. Lile is second on the team in goals with 20 and Hastings has 19.

In the Wesleyan net, sophomore Abby Sedney got her first start of the year and took advantage by making eight saves. Freshman Lamia Harik started for Amherst and allowed nine goals in 45 minutes of work with six saves. Reserve sophomore Caroline Burke permitted three goals with no saves over the final 15 minutes.

Wesleyan's next game will be at Williams Saturday, April 18 with a chance to lock up an outright Little Three title for the first time since 1982. Amherst defeated Williams last weekend, 8-7, so the Lord Jeffs finished 1-1 while Wesleyan is now 1-0 and Williams 0-1. If Williams defeats Wesleyan, the teams will end up in a three-way tie for the first time since 1983. Wesleyan got by Williams, 9-8, last year to end a 25-game losing skein vs. the Ephs. Amherst plays at Middlebury Wed., April 15 in its next contest.

2009-04-11