It’s been business as usual for the Amherst College women’s hockey team this season.

Through seven games, the Mammoths are undefeated and sit atop the NESCAC women’s hockey standings.

Since the 2020 season, Amherst has averaged 19.5 wins per season. The Mammoths have appeared in three of the previous four NESCAC championship games – winning in 2020 and 2023 – while also qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament in 2020, 2023 and 2024.

Currently the third-ranked team in the country among Division III schools in the weekly USCHO poll, Amherst looks primed for another long postseason run, if early returns are any indication.

“I think going into the season, a league championship and a national championship are two goals that we definitely have in mind,” Mammoths senior defender Kelsey Stewart said. “We're still early in the season. I think something that as a team our coaches harp on a lot is improving every period of every game.”

Keeping the puck out of the net has been Amherst’s lifeblood up to this point. Junior goalie Natalie Stott, a Williston product, has been the Mammoths’ early-season MVP with 139 saves while only allowing four goals all year.

Stott’s 0.59 goals-against average and .972 save-percentage is best among NESCAC goalies who have played more than four games.

“Natalie is an elite goaltender, two-time All-America, first-team All-American, but the three [goalies] really push each other, and they work really well together,” Amherst head coach Jeff Matthews said. “Certainly it starts with her, but as a team we stress defense, defense wins championships. We try and build from there, from the net out, take care of the D-zone and just play our game and let the game take care of itself."

The Mammoths’ penalty-kill hasn’t surrendered a goal in 20 opportunities, and defenders have put their bodies on the line quite a bit as they lead the NESCAC in blocked shots with 97. 

“I think that defense in general is one of the fundamentals of our team,” Stewart said. “I wouldn't say it's just the defensemen, per se, because every single player on the ice is critical in our D-zone. Everyone has a role, and we were working together as a five-man unit in the D-zone, that's when we're most successful, and we've been able to do that so far.”

Amherst (7-0) has been no slouch on offense either as it has averaged nearly four goals a game with 24 goals scored through seven contests. First-year Ayla Abban is scoring at a goal-per-game pace with seven tucks in as many games, while first-year Bea Flynn, junior Marie-Eve Marleau, and junior Maeve Reynolds all have notched three goals.

“I think just in a broad sense, our standards for our team is fast, hard and prepared,” senior forward Anna Baxter said. “So I think everyone, the forwards, [defense], goalies included, everyone's showing up, ready to go, and giving it their all, no matter who we're playing.

“I think something that we're doing well this year too, is getting a lot of shots off, both on the forward and D-side,” Baxter said. “And I think utilizing the [defense] in the offensive zone has been really pivotal in our season this year, especially playing as a five-unit in the offensive zone as opposed to a three-man unit. So I think that's why they're getting more shots off and if you shoot more, probability wise, it's more likely to go in the net.”

The Mammoths are averaging 41.86 shots-per-game, which trails only Williams (44 shots-per-game) among NESCAC teams.

Amherst has yet to hoist the NCAA championship trophy since Matthews has been the coach, but has gotten close in each of the last two seasons. The program last won titles in 2009 and 2010.

In 2023, the Mammoths made it to the Elite Eight, before falling to Elmira College in overtime, 2-1. The year prior, Amherst advanced all the way to the national title game — held at Orr Rink — but lost in triple overtime to Gustavus Adolphus.

According to Matthews, he already sees similarities in this year’s Mammoths squad to the national runner-up team from two seasons ago.

“This team does resemble the one from two years ago a lot,” Matthews said. “I would say the biggest thing being our team speed. Again, we had good depth with that team, and great team speed. One of our strengths was our forecheck. This team has shown signs of that.”

Matthews is in the midst of his 12th season behind the Amherst bench and appears to be well on his way to guiding this Mammoths team to another winning season. Matthews has never finished the season with a losing record as Amherst’s head coach.

A Westfield native, Matthews’ winning ways with the Mammoths can be credited to his recruitment style of seeking quality people first, then worrying about on-ice abilities.

“He really does recruit the person first, before the player, but he's also recruited amazing players,” Stewart said. “And you know, team culture is probably one of the first things that we talk about when the team gets together. And I think it's one of the most foundational elements of who we are in our identity.”

“I think Coach Matthews does a great job of emphasizing the importance of team culture, both on and off the ice,” Baxter said. “And at least my experience playing here, I feel like, off the ice, I'm happy, having a good time, knowing what's expected of me, the hard work and all that stuff that success kind of follows. And I think teams, the teams I've played on here, the closer we are, I feel like, the better that we play. There's more camaraderie, both on and off the ice.”

Amherst won’t return to the ice for game action until Jan. 5. The Mammoths will make the trek to Norwich University in Vermont to take part in the East West Classic Tournament following the winter break.

Twelve of Amherst’s 15 remaining games will come against NESCAC teams, including No. 1 Middlebury and unbeaten Bowdoin.

The Mammoths have high hopes this year and based on their hot start combined with their recent winning pedigree, this Amherst bunch has the chance to make history.

“Your culture is the most important part and this is the best our culture has ever been,” Matthews said. “That's a tribute to the people that they are. Their selflessness, their commitment level to our standards and to each other. They love it, they're having a lot of fun. When you have that, it's a lot of fun to come to the rink and work with them.”