BRUNSWICK, Maine - Josie Fisher scored a pair of goals to propel the Amherst College women's ice hockey team to a 5-2 win over Bowdoin on Friday evening at Sidney J. Watson Arena.

The Jeffs, ranked third in the latest Division III poll, improve to 19-4-0 (13-2-0 NESCAC). The Polar Bears lose their second-straight outing and dip to 11-9-3 (9-6-0 NESCAC). In addition to Fisher's two tallies, Stephanie Clegg had a pair of assists for the Jeffs. Bowdoin received goals from Kim Tess-Wanat and Shelagh Merrill in the loss.

The Polar Bears scored first Friday, taking advantage of an odd man rush after an Amherst turnover in the neutral zone.  The Amherst defender blocked the passing lane allowing Tess-Wanat to rip a shot to the upper left hand corner of the net just 4:54 into the contest.  Amherst tied the game less than three minutes later on the power play when Emily Flom snapped a strong wrist shot over the outstretched glove of Bowdoin's Tara Connolly. 

Fisher gave Amherst the lead for good late in the first period when she banged in a rebound at 16:57. Fisher converted on another rebound at 19:38 to give the visitors a 3-1 lead heading into the second frame.

After a scoreless second period, Amherst built its lead to 4-1 with a goal by Megan Doyen at 11:46 of the third. Shelagh Merrill cut the Bowdoin deficit to two goals when she scored a breakaway goal with 4:53 left, but Emily Vitale sealed the win for Amherst with an empty-netterwith 24 seconds left.
 
Tara Connolly made 22 saves for Bowdoin in the loss.  Sinead Murphy had 29 saves for Amherst, as Bowdoin held a 31-27 edge in shots. Amherst went 0/4 on the power play while Bowdoin went scoreless in three chances.

Bowdoin wore pink laces on Friday evening for their "Pink the Rink" fundraiser in support of the Breast Health Center at MidCoast Hospital. The fundraiser will continue when the teams will play again at Watson Arena on Saturday with faceoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography.