RYE, N.Y. – Freshman goaltender Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) made 37 saves, but nationally ranked Amherst proved to be too much for the young Valiants, defeating Manhattanville in their final non-conference matchup of the season 9-1 at Playland Ice Casino.
Pijaca started the day with an impressive performance in goal, but a few one-on-one opportunities and solid passing plays allowed the Lord Jeffs to find the back of the net seven times against the freshman goaltender before being replaced by Junior Olivia Drew (York, Maine/Portland Jr. Pirates). Senior Kyra Herbert (Plainfield, N.H./Lebanon) scored the lone goal for the Valiants for the second day in a row, putting her in a tie for the team lead in goals this season with seven.
After holding off the Lord Jeffs (15-1-3 overall, 9-1-2 NESCAC) for most of the first period, Erin Martin broke free for a breakaway opportunity in the final seconds of the opening frame. After making 17 saves in the opening frame, Martin beat the freshman with a double-move on the breakaway to give Amherst a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Amherst would keep the foot on the gas pedal in the second period, tacking on three more goals, including two by Martin as she completed the hat-trick midway through the second period. Kyra Herbert (Plainfield, N.H./Lebanon) was able to get the Valiants on the board with 8:40 remaining in the period. Freshman Jordan Roetzer (Buffalo, N.Y./Niagara Junior Purple Eagles) was able to force a turnover in the offensive end and find Herbert with a saucer pass and the senior was able to beat Bailey Plaman for the Valiants only goal of the afternoon.
The Lord Jeffs would tack on four more goals in the first ten minutes of action to begin the third period, taking down Manhattanville by the final of 9-1. Drew would come in for the final 12:53 of action, making seven saves on nine shots.
Manhattanville will be back in action on Friday, when they host New England College at Playland Ice Casino, before traveling to Franklin Pierce on Saturday.
