Andy Gobin, Middlebury Athletics

Women's Ice Hockey Courtesy of Amherst Athletics

BACK-TO-BACK: Amherst Repeats as NESCAC Women's Ice Hockey Champion With 1-0 Shutout of Colby

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Senior Natalie Stott made a season-high 39 saves and classmate Gretchen Dann scored the game's only goal Sunday to lead Amherst to a 1-0 win over Colby in the NESCAC Championship Game at Middlebury's College's Chip Keynon '85 Arena. 

It was the second straight conference championship for the Mammoths and seventh in program history (2026, 2025, 2023, 2020, 2020, 2008, 2007). Amherst will receive the NESCAC's automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament. Amherst improved to 19-2-6 with the win while Colby closed out the season with an 18-7-1 mark.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Amherst broke through at 9:25 of the first. Dann scored her 14th goal of the season off assists from Bea Flynn and Ayla Abban, finishing a quick offensive push to give Amherst a 1–0 lead. 
  • The second period remained tightly contested, with both teams trading chances but neither able to find the back of the net.
  • Special teams factored into the middle frame. Amherst earned a power play after a Colby slashing penalty and created multiple looks from Natalie Fu, Reynolds, and Dann, but Martiniello held firm. Later in the period, Colby received a power play of its own, yet Amherst's penalty kill shut down the opportunity to maintain the narrow lead.
  • The pressure intensified in the third period as Colby searched for the equalizer. The Mules generated a sustained push midway through the frame, but Stott continued to stand tall, while Amherst defenders repeatedly blocked attempts and clear rebounds.
  • In the final minutes, Colby pulled Martiniello for the extra attacker to create a six-on-five advantage. The Mules produced several late chances, but Amherst held firm. Dann, Hohmann, and Sami Lester each recorded critical blocks in the closing sequence as the Mammoths protected the lead.

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • Colby outshot Amherst 39-32 and 16 of Stott's 39 saves came in the final stanza.
  • Colby won 39 face-offs while the Mammoths captured 29. Calleigh Brown won 13 of 19 face-offs.
  • With the win, Stott extended her own NCAA DIII record for goaltender wins to 84 and her all-time career shutout total to 44. She currently leads D3 with 11 shutouts on the season.