WORCESTER --
Sam Maynard (Charlestown, MA) deposited a hat trick to propel visiting Amherst to a come-from-behind 4-1 triumph over WPI in a non-conference field hockey matchup Thursday evening on H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.
The Mammoths, ranked No.15 in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top 15, improve their record to 8-5 on the season while the Engineers dip to 6-8 overall.
WPI struck first, finding the back of the goal cage on its only shot of the first half just under five minutes into the contest.
Eliza Dutson (Woodstock, CT) connected with
Arie Lang (West Hartford, CT) on a long entry pass and the sophomore dribbled around a pair of Amherst defenders and left the ball for
Abbey Powers (Halifax, MA) who slid a shot into the right corner for her fifth goal of the season and 14th of her career at 4:54.
Maynard was busy in the second quarter, helping the Mammoths cash in on their only two shots on frame in the stanza. She evened the game at 17:52 when she tipped in a cross
Kate Smith (St. Louis, MO) and netted what proved to be the game-winner on a reverse chip to the near post with just 42 seconds to go before intermission.
Maynard completed the hat trick in the final minute of the third quarter when she rang one off the post and in with just 40 seconds left for her 14th goal of the season.
Muffie Mazambani (Harare, Zimbabwe) closed out the scoring for the visitors 4:14 into the final quarter when she corralled her own rebound and tipped in past keeper for her 11th marker of 2023.
Grace Puchalski (Waxhaw, NC) earned the victory in net for the Mammoths, making one save on the night while
Ella Moreau (Huntington, MA) was fantastic in goal for the Crimson and Gray, registering a career-best 19 saves.
The guests held a 35-2 bulge in shots and attempted 17 of the game's 19 penalty corners. Powers and Lang accounted for the Engineers' two shots.
Both teams turn their attention back to conference play on Saturday. WPI ventures to Newport, RI to tangle with Salve Regina in a noon NEWMAC tilt while Amherst welcomes Hamilton to Western Mass for an 11am NESCAC affair.
