Alyssa Xu picked a heck of a time to record her first multi-goal game of the season for the Amherst College women’s hockey team.

Xu scored two of the Mammoths’ three goals — each during the third period — in their 3-1 win over Middlebury during the NCAA Division III national semifinal on Friday afternoon in River Falls, Wisconsin.

Amherst’s senior forward netted the game’s first goal one minute, 57 seconds into the last period, then put the Mammoths back on top with about seven minutes remaining in regulation as Amherst advanced to the national championship for the fourth time in program history.

“I think the saying goes, you stand on the shoulders of giants, and I think that’s absolutely what was the case with our team,” Xu said. “It’s the alums that have graduated and then there’s a couple of us here left that played in the final game at home two years ago. Leaning on our bit of experience and uplifting our younger players, cheering them on as well [has helped].”

Saturday’s meeting was the fourth battle this season between the NESCAC powers and after going winless during the regular season against the Panthers, the Mammoths ran the table in the postseason, downing Middlebury in the NESCAC title game, then the national semifinal.

“To be honest, feeling pretty emotional to be part of this type of environment,” Amherst head coach Jeff Matthews said. “It was an incredible hockey game. It’s so hard to get here. Obviously, extremely difficult to win a game like that. Emotional because the group of people that this team is and the type of journey it’s been. It’s been a really special ride and that’s the most important part for me and we’re very grateful to be here and super grateful to be able to play one more game.”

Amherst goalie Natalie Stott picked up her ninth consecutive win in net for the Mammoths with the 17-save outing versus Middlebury. Panthers goaltender Sophia Will notched 18 saves.

Forward Bea Flynn increased her scoring streak to three games as well, scoring the empty-netter for Amherst with less than a minute to go in the game.

“They’re always super well-prepared,” Matthews said of Middlebury. “They played hard, they played their hearts out. Credit to the NESCAC, it’s a tough league. The competition night-in and night-out over the course of the year prepares us for moments like these.”

During the Mammoths’ third power play of the game, Xu broke the deadlock with a backhand trickler early in the third period as Amherst went on top, 1-0. Amherst’s power play finished 1-for-3 against the Panthers.

Cece Ziegler evened the score at 1-1 for Middlebury with a sizzler from the blueline that went high past Stott. Ziegler’s equalizer came about six minutes following Xu’s first, however the Mammoths All-NESCAC second teamer quickly put the purple and white back in front with a beauty.

Xu snuck behind the Panthers defense, took a pass from Maeve Reynolds at the attacking blueline and then fooled Will with a couple dekes, before sliding the puck past the goal line at 13:03.

“It was a phenomenal play,” Xu said. “I think my linemate Marie-Eve Marleau got the puck, moved it up to Maeve [Reynolds] and she’s a phenomenal player. She dished a nice pass over and then I think I was just lucky enough to end up at the end of it and put it in.”

Xu improved her goal total on the season to eight in Amherst’s methodical victory. Anna Baxter tied Xu with a pair of points against the Panthers, picking up two assists.

The Mammoths last played in the national championship in 2023 when they lost to Gustavus Adolphus in triple overtime at Orr Rink.

Amherst will play the winner of Wisconsin-River Falls and Augsburg on Sunday as the Mammoths are looking to bring home their third national championship in program history and first with Matthews at the helm.

“I think the main theme that we’ve been rolling with is that the recipe is the same,” Baxter said. “Even though this is going to be an NCAA championship game, if we just come out there and play the game that we’ve playing all year, I think things will work out for us.”

Amherst won back-to-back Division III titles in 2009 and 2010.

Puck drop for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 4 p.m.