written by: Lo Yarnall
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - After going on a six-game win streak to start the new season, the No. 11 ranked Wesleyan women's soccer team (6-1-0, 4-1-0 NESCAC) dropped its first match in a 1-0 loss to to No. 20 Amherst (8-1-1, 4-1-1 NESCAC) at home on Saturday afternoon. It was a battle of the defenses, with both sides holding each other scoreless in the first half before the Mammoths scored the only goal of the game in the 59
th minute. The loss to Amherst marks the Cardinals' first loss in conference play and the season.
FIRST HALF:
It was Wesleyan who was first to work their way down the field, the first shot of the game missing wide from
Audrey Lavey '23. Amherst wouldn't get their first shot until the 14
th minute, as Patience Kum would miss high. The attempts would continue from both teams, but the defenses held strong against Wesleyan's seven and Amherst's five shots. Mammoth goalie Mika Fisher tallied four saves.
SECOND HALF:
After the back-and-forth play of the first half, it was Amherst who struck off a goal from Kum, assisted by Julia Ralph, in the 59
th minute as Ralph launched a ball run down by Kum. She then made a move past the Wesleyan defense and GK
Sarah Hammond '22 as she finished a great goal to make it 1-0 Amherst. The Cardinals would try to rally back, firing off 11 shots in the remaining minutes. The closest attempt came from
Kate Hausladen '23, receiving a corner kick from
Caty Clements '25. Hausladen hit a jumping header that just missed, hitting the left goal post. A scramble in front of the goal led to another Cardinal header shot, missing this time off the right goal post. Neither team would record another goal, and Amherst took the game, 1-0, as well as the Little 3 title.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
This marked the first time Wesleyan has been held scoreless all season as the Cardinals came in having outscored their opponents 20-3 through their six-game win streak. Hammond made three saves in net. Wesleyan outshot the Mammoths 18-8 and held a big 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan plays host to in-state NESCAC foe Trinity on Tuesday at 4 PM from Jackson Field.