The Hamilton College women's hockey team opened a weekend NESCAC series at Amherst College Friday, falling by a score of 3-1. The hosts are ranked fourth nationally by USCHO.com and are fifth in D3hockey.com's poll.

Box Score

Despite the loss, Hamilton clinched a berth in the NESCAC Championship for the 14th time in the past 15 years. The Continentals' 5-6-2 NESCAC mark is good for fifth place in the league standings.

Amherst is now 17-1-3 overall with a 10-1-2 mark in the NESCAC. Hamilton falls to 11-8-2 overall. The hosts scored the game's first three goals, outshooting Hamilton 36-14 on the night.

The Continentals broke through with the only goal of the third period, converting a power-play opportunity 7:27 in. Olivia Hawes '19 picked up her fifth power-play goal of the season (tied for the NESCAC lead) with Hannah Bartlett '16 and Steph DiPietro '18 assisting on the play.

Hawes, who scored two of Hamilton's goals in Saturday's win at Bowdoin, is now the NESCAC's top scoring first year, with 17 points (8-9=17).

Hamilton pressured Amherst goaltender Bailey Plaman over the final five minutes, but shots by Andrea Rockey '19 and DiPietro were turned away to preserve the hosts' lead.

Sam Walther '18 made 33 saves in goal for Hamilton. Plaman finished with 13.

The two teams conclude their series Saturday at 3 p.m.