HARTFORD, Conn. — No. 14 nationally ranked Bantams topped No. 5 Amherst College in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Quarterfinals with a 9–8 clip. The Bantams improved to 12-4, 7-3 in conference play, while the Mammoths fell to 12-4, 7-3. Despite the loss, Amherst—given its national ranking—should still see the NCAA field.

What Happened

• The Bantams trailed Amherst 3-0 for the majority of the opening period until Alex Lesko netted two in the final four minutes to close the gap to 3-2 entering the second frame.
• A free position shot by Kaeley Zito tied the score 3-3 just four minutes into the second period. Bridget Darcy found the lead again for Amherst at the 10-minute mark of the second, 4-3.
• The one-goal lead didn't hold long for the Mammoths, as the Bantams stacked two more in the quarter with goals from Grace Denious and Kelsey Restivo, claiming Trinity's first lead of the day, 5-4. Mammoth Clara Sosa added a tally with a well-executed free position attempt that leveled the score 5-5 heading into the half.
• The third quarter saw a goal from each side. Amherst struck first at 9:31 with a goal from Bridget Finley, assisted by Mia Raven. The Bantams answered at 4:31 with a strike from Alex Lesko, assisted by Kelsey Restivo, making it 6-6 heading into the final frame.
• The fourth quarter remained neck and neck at 6-6 halfway through play until Mammoth Bridget Finley broke through with a free position goal at 6:50, giving Amherst a 7-6 edge.
• Restivo found Lesko cutting into the 8-meter arc, where the senior forward caught and tossed in the tying goal at 6:21.
• At 3:25, Lily Acerra seized the lead with a right-handed, side-armed release just inside the 8-meter to the top-right corner of the net.
• The Bantams extended their lead as Zito dodged two Mammoth defenders on her way to the net for a shot that was stopped by Jessye Salmon, before finding her own rebound for the second-chance finish. Trinity now held its largest lead of the contest, 9-7, with 1:21 remaining.
• Amherst tallied its eighth goal in the final 27 seconds, as Emily Petersen brought the game within reach. In the closing moments, Emily looked for her second goal—and the equalizer—but was denied by Bantams goalie Ali MacDougall to seal the 9-8 win.

Inside the Numbers

Shots: Trinity 26 | Amherst 25
Turnovers: Trinity 12 | Amherst 18
Ground Balls: Trinity 22 | Amherst 24
Clears: Trinity 14-15 | Amherst 10-12
Free-Position Shots: Trinity 1-7 | Amherst 3-6

Goalkeeping

Trinity — Ali MacDougall (W, 9 saves, 8 GA)
Amherst — Jessye Salmon (L, 8 saves, 9 GA)

Up Next

With the win, the Bantams advance to the semifinals of the NESCAC Tournament for a matchup against No. 1 nationally ranked Middlebury College (16-0, 10-0). The Panthers are coming off a quarterfinal win over Bates College, 18-6, remaining undefeated in conference play.

Earlier this season, the Bantams met the Panthers and were bested 10-4 in a conference clash in Middlebury, VT. Trinity will look to avenge that early-season loss and knock off the top-seeded Panthers.