Amherst Skates Past RIT in NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament, 2-1
Courtesy Amherst Sports Information
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Lord Jeffs defeated RIT 2-1 in the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Amherst advances to the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey semifinals where they will face Plattsburgh St. next Friday in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Amherst took a 1-0 lead when Alyssa Chwick (Rye Brook, NY) hit a streaking Elizabeth Ditmore (Excelsior, MN) who broke in on RIT goalkeeper Nicki Werner and scored with a wrist shot over her shoulder.
Early in the second period RIT killed off a 5-on-3 power play by the Jeffs when Jerica Young and Maegen Geypens were whistled for checking minors.
Amherst made it 2-0 at 15:27 of the second period on an even strength goal from Rachel Simon (West Orange, NJ). Tarassi Karega (Detroit, MI) fed Simon who fired a shot from a tough angle that beat Werner low.
Dayna Birch's goal early in the third period cut Amherst's lead in half after she took a pass from Kelly Prom and snuck a shot past first-year goaltender Krystyn Elek (Summerville, SC) to bring the game to 2-1 Amherst.
RIT generated some good chances down the stretch but were unable to get through the stingy Amherst defense. Amherst out shot RIT 28-16, but finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while RIT was 0-for-2.
Elek made 15 saves in net for Amherst allowing one just the lone goal, while Werner was solid in net for the Tigers, making 26 saves.
Amherst improves to 20-5-3 overall, while RIT finishes their season with a 22-4-2 record.
