NESCAC women’s hockey: Ayla Abban’s OT goal propels Amherst College past Bowdoin, 2-1, in quarterfinals

AMHERST — Ayla Abban notched the overtime game-winning goal for the Amherst College women’s hockey team in its 2-1 win over Bowdoin in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament at Orr Rink on Saturday afternoon.

Abban was credited with the deciding goal less than 90 seconds into sudden-death overtime with a shot that trickled through seventh-seeded Polar Bears’ goalie Sarah Peterson’s legs and just across the goal line.

The victory sends the second-seeded Mammoths to the semifinal round of the NESCAC Tournament, which will be hosted by top-seed Middlebury next weekend.

“Hockey is a sport where you can out-play someone and lose,” Amherst head coach Jeff Matthews said. “The biggest thing I’ve seen is, especially in these two versus seven games, there’s not much different between us and them, but typically the other team comes in playing a little looser, nothing to lose. There’s definitely more pressure on the higher seed, so you actually see a lot of upsets.

“I thought we had good energy and good jump,” Matthews said.

Abban’s goal counted as the sophomore’s first of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Amherst.

“It could be something that ignites her, for the puck to find the back of the net,” Matthews said. “She’s had her chances, she’s had no luck at all this year. She’s shown a lot of resilience and just staying with it, getting better throughout the year.”

The Duxbury native’s marker came one minute, 27 seconds into the extra frame, with Bea Flynn and Marie-Eve Marleau picking up helpers.

Abban also assisted on the Mammoth’s opening strike, setting up Sammi Lester for a backhander midway through the second period, to finish with a multi-point effort for just the second time this season.

“She’s a good hockey player, she’s a great teammate,” Matthews said. “Teammates were super happy for her and I told [the team], ‘what a perfect script for her to bury the one in OT.'”

Abban potted 14 goals as a freshman during the 2024-25 season.

On the other end of the ice, Mammoths goalie Natalie Stott added another illustrious accolade to her career resume as Saturday’s win tied the NCAA Div. III all-time record at 82, with former Gustavus Adolphus netminder Katie McCoy.

Against the Polar Bears, Stott totaled 17 saves to reach the milestone.

“She made big saves when she had to,” Matthews said. “I thought she played great and she’s our backbone and that’s where all of our success starts.”

The Mammoths’ regulation goal from Lester came following a scoreless first period in which the hosts had to kill off three Bowdoin power plays. Penalties were a theme in this one as the two teams combined for 15 penalties, including nine from the Polar Bears.

Lester finally solved Peterson during 4-on-4 action with a slick backhander from the slot at 8:55 of the second period, giving Amherst the 1-0 lead at last.

While the Mammoths continued to pepper Peterson into the third period, it was the visitors who found the equalizer on a power play tally from Meghan Britt. Bowdoin’s 1-1 marker occurred at 10:27 of the third.

“I knew if we had the right mindset, we would have a good chance to come out successful,” Matthews said on his mindset entering OT. “Meaning, there was no time to dwell on the negatives or feel bad about ourselves.”

The Polar Bears’ penalty troubles wound up costing them as they took a tripping penalty 40 seconds into OT, setting up Abban’s game-winner, on her team’s 50th shot of the contest.

Bowdoin only recorded 18 shots in the defeat.

Amherst (17-2-6) will square off with third-seeded Williams in the semifinal round next Saturday, March 7.

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Men’s hockey

Bowdoin 3, Amherst 1 — These two teams met on the men’s side of the NESCAC Tournament as well, with the Polar Bears taking this one in Maine.

Josh Burke netted the Mammoths’ lone goal, a power play strike, in the defeat.

Amherst went 12-11-2 in its first season under head coach Eddie Effinger.