Amherst College broke a 1-1 tie with three unanswered goals in the second period and the nationally ranked No. 4 Lord Jeffs cruised to a 7-1 win against visiting Hamilton College in a New England Small College Athletic Conference championship tournament quarterfinal contest at Orr Rink on Feb. 28.
Hamilton -- the No. 8 seed in the tournament -- ends its season with an overall record of 9-14-2. Hamilton was making its eighth tournament appearance. The Continentals dropped to 2-1 against Amherst in tournament play. Top-seeded Amherst (20-4-0 overall) is seeking its third straight tournament title.
Hamilton scored the first goal just 1:03 into the first period when Kathryn Kroleski '09 scored unassisted for her ninth goal this season. Kroleski picked up a steal in the neutral zone and headed straight for the net, where she lofted a finesse shot over the goalie's left shoulder for the 1-0 lead. Kroleski finished her 99-game career with 35 goals and 67 points.
The Continentals held the one-goal lead until the Lord Jeffs got on the board with 6:05 to go in the period. The hosts scored three goals in each of the remaining two periods for the win.
Meg Shine '10 made 44 stops in goal for Hamilton in the face of a constant Lord Jeff attack. Amherst enjoyed a 51-22 advantage in shots on goal. The Continentals were 0-for-2 on the power play and the Jeffs were scoreless on their four chances.
