Sudbury Resident Scores in 3-2 Amherst College Quarterfinal Win

The following is from the Amherst College athletics website:

Krista Zsitvay ’14 netted a pair of goals, including the game winner in the second overtime, to lift the fifth-seeded Amherst field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 (2ot) win over fourth-seeded Trinity in a NESCAC quarterfinal match-up on Robin Sheppard Field.

Improving to 11-4 (6-4 NESCAC), the Jeffs avenged a 1-0 (ot) regular season loss to the Bantams (11-4) and advance to face top-seeded Middlebury in the NESCAC semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 3. The fifth overtime game between the Amherst and Trinity since 2007, today’s contest marked the eighth-consecutive meeting in the closely-contested rivalry decided by just one goal.

Staking the Jeffs to an early lead, Annika Nygren ’16 (of Sudbury) netted her third marker of the season just 4:40 after the opening whistle. Corralling a rebound on the left side of the cage, the first-year slotted the putback just inside the far post to put the visitors on top. Zsitvay added to Amherst’s tally in the latter stages of the first half, dribbling down the right side before sneaking a shot past junior goalkeeper Anne Scalambrino from the top of the circle at 28:36.

Getting on the board just 1:32 into the second half, Hadley Duncan ’13 cut into the Jeff lead as Trinity outshot Amherst 15-5 during the second period. With 14 seconds left in regulation, sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Tannenbaum ’15 looked to make a game-saving stop on a Haley Thompson ’13 shot, but the Bantams were awarded a penalty corner with no time left on the clock, giving the home team one final chance at an equalizer. Hacking away at a rebound in front, Duncan tallied her second goal of the afternoon to force overtime and give Trinity new life.

With both teams unable to pull ahead despite registering four shots apiece during the first extra session, Amherst looked to regain control halfway through the second overtime. Winning a corner with just over eight minutes remaining, Ellie Andersen ’15 played a ball to Katie McMahon ’13 near the top of the arc. Dodging a defender, McMahon slid a pass to the left to Zsitvay, who one-timed the game winner past Scalambrino, punching the Jeffs’ ticket to third-consecutive NESCAC semifinal.


No. 5 Amherst College will play No. 1 Middlebury College Saturday, Nov. 3, at 11 a.m., in the NESCAC Semifinal Game.