Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Amherst College women's soccer team erupted for six goals in a shutout victory over Bates in the NESCAC Championship game on Sunday. With the victory, the Jeffs (10-3-4) earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the Bobcats (12-3-2) will hold out hope for an at-large berth when selections are announced on Sunday evening.

Bates had two early chances to grab the lead as they controlled the pace of play in the early going. Ten minutes into the game, Becky Macdonald's sliding shot skipped wide of the net and minutes later Meg Coffin's attempt off a corner kick hit the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless.

Amherst, who entered the contest by advancing on penalty kicks in the first two rounds, scored in the 21st minute when a loose ball in the box was chipped into the top left corner of the goal by Kaitlin Hill, giving the Jeffs a 1-0 lead. Later in the half, Amherst's Ashley Harmeling scored twice in a matter of minutes, putting home a pass from Adrienne Showler at 30:10 before heading home a corner (pictured above) to make it 3-0. Lee-Jay Henry knocked home a goal on the doorstep at 36:44 to make it 4-0 Jeffs at intermission.

Harmeling set a NESCAC Championship Tournament record with her third goal of the game at 66:56 and Amherst set the Tournament record for goals in a game at 75:16 when Amy Armstrong closed out the scoring with a rebound off the crossbar.

Bates' Lynne Antinarelli (73 minutes, five goals) made seven stops before being relieved by Kaitlin Hyde (17 minutes, one goal). Jeanette Crowell (81 minutes) made five saves, while Emily Durwood played the final nine minutes without making a save for Amherst.

2003 NESCAC WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Nov. 2 at Higher Seeds
at No. 2 Amherst 0, No. 7 Tufts 0 - 2OT
Amherst advances on penalty kicks, 4-2
at No. 3 Williams 0, No. 6 Middlebury 0 - 2OT
Williams advances on penalty kicks, 3-1
at No. 4 Bates 2, No. 5 Trinity 0

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bowdoin
No. 4 Bates 1, at No. 1 Bowdoin 0
No. 2 Amherst 1, vs. No. 3 Williams 1 - 2OT
Amherst advances on penalty kicks 3-1

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 9 at Bowdoin
No. 2 Amherst 6, vs. No. 4 Bates 0