MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Georgia Adams '26 swept in the game's only goal in the 36^th minute and the Cardinal defense did the rest as the No. 17 ranked Wesleyan field hockey team defeated No. 16 Amherst 1-0 on Saturday afternoon from Hicks Field. That win for the Cardinals (5-3, 1-3 NESCAC) represents the team's first win over Amherst (5-5, 2-4 NESCAC) since 2005.
 
Neither side generated quality scoring chances in the first quarter but Audrey Pace '26 was still called into duty late on in the frame when Caroline White reverse swept a shot that lofted high in the air, destined for the goal, but Pace tracked the ball in mid-air and ultimately knocked the shot away for her first save.
 
Amherst had a quality look off a penalty corner midway through the second quarter as Emma Zhang reverse swept a shot on-target that Pace initially dealt with. The rebound then kicked out to Caroline Busler who shot with her back to goal that Pace stopped and then Genevieve Caruso had one last attempt that went wide of the left post.
 
With the game still scoreless heading into the second half, Wesleyan denied Amherst on two more penalty corner chances before landing the decisive blow in this Little Three battle. Possessing on the far side of the field, Brooke Miner '28 slid a pass through multiple Amherst defenders to Meera Patel '29 who turned towards cage. Patel worked her way towards the center of the circle before her shot beat Amherst goalie Kate Grady and was ultimately swept in by Adams at the right post.
 
Patel nearly made it 2-0 Cardinals late in the third quarter when Adams intercepted an Amherst pass deep in the Wesleyan defensive end. Adams passed upfield to Patel who carried the ball all the way from midfield before firing a shot on-target that was saved by Grady.
 
Amherst had four penalty corner chances in the fourth quarter, all coming with under five minutes remaining, and the Mammoths could only generate two shots off those corners. Anna Aiello had an attempt turned aside by Pace with 4:15 remaining and Zhang had a reverse sweep blocked with just 11 seconds remaining. Amherst tried to make something happen in the last remaining seconds but the clock wound down and the Cardinals celebrated their first win over the Mammoths in 20 years.
 
The Mammoths held a 14-7 edge in shots but only 5-4 in shots on-goal for the contest. Amherst had nine penalty corners compared to two for Wesleyan.
 
Pace made five saves in what is her second shutout of the year and third combined shutout for the Cardinals on the season. This marks just the fourth time in 53 all-time meetings that Wesleyan has held Amherst scoreless.
 
The Cardinals look to string together another win on Wednesday night when Wesleyan plays host to Trinity at 7 PM from Hicks Field.