Football
After a 13-year winless streak against the Williams College Ephs, the Jeffs finally emerged victorious in this year's Homecoming game. This capped off a season in which the Jeffs took the Little III title and also a share of the NESCAC Championship.
In a game that started slowly for both teams, the Ephs took a 9-0 lead into halftime. But from there the Jeffs dominated. Tri-captain Matt Hall '01 and Derell Wright '02 both had over 100 yards receiving in the game, and Tri-captain Brian Daoust '01 added three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. The Jeffs ended up with a 20-12 victory, after which the capacity crowd at Pratt Field stormed the gridiron and tore down the goalposts.
Including that win, the Jeffs rolled to a 7-1 record on the season, losing only to Middlebury College in the third week of the season.
Against Little III rival Wesleyan University the Jeffs went into Middletown and took their closest win of the season, 9-7. In a day dominated by defense, Wright returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and Dave Frankel '01 blocked a punt for a safety.
After the season, many Jeffs continued to rack up awards and honors. Eleven Jeffs were placed on the All-NESCAC first or second teams, with Daoust, Wright, Okey Ugwonali '02, Tri-captain Dan Lalli '02 and Pat McGee '02 making the first squad. Daoust was also named to the All-ECAC First Team as well as being named a Third-Team All-American by D3football.com.
Following this season will be difficult for the Jeffs, especially considering the graduating senior class. The Jeffs will lose 13 seniors from this year's squad, including starters at many key positions. But the seniors have left the program in good shape, and they will always be able to look back on the glory of their final game. Amherst 20, Williams 12.
Men's soccer
The men's soccer team played through an up-and-down season in which they were never able to get the momentum that they needed.
Finishing with an 8-7-2 record, the Jeffs advanced to the ECAC Tournament where they fell to Keene State College, 2-0. This wrapped up a season in which the Jeffs were led by a contingent of underclassmen.
Franklin Perry '04 was the most important newcomer for the Jeffs. Perry led the Jeffs with eight goals and 17 points on the season and was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year.
Dave Michener '02 came in second in scoring for the Jeffs and was named to the All-NESCAC second-team for the second season running. Ryan Goodband '02 anchored the Jeffs defense and was named to the All-NESCAC first-team, while also being named to the Adidas First-Team All-New England Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Women's soccer
To conclude another solid season, the women's soccer team took home the ECAC Tournament title in a 3-2 triple-overtime win over Bates College. The Jeffs won a trio of nailbiters in the tourney-including a penalty kick win over Wellesley College in the semifinals-running their season record to a very solid 11-5-2.
In the tournament the Jeffs relied on a bevy of inspirational performances, but none was more so than that of Cathy Poor '02. Poor was supposed to be sidelined for the game against Wellesley with multiple stress fractures in her foot, but she entered the game in the final minutes of overtime and converted on the Jeffs' first penalty kick. Poor led the team in scoring during the regular season and, along with Co-captain Meg Riley '01, she was named Division III Region All-New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Poor and Riley were also named to the All-NESCAC team, with Poor making the first team and Riley the second.
Field hockey
The Lord Jeffs made a return visit to the NCAA Tournament this year, but unfortunately they were unable to top last year's Final Four appearance.
After running up a 14-2 record through the conference tournament the Jeffs faced Cortland State College in the NCAA Regional Quarterfinals where they turned out to be a tough-luck loser. The Jeffs fell 2-0 in the game after being locked in a scoreless tie going into the half.
During the season the Jeffs ran off two impressive seven-game winning streaks, punctuated only by a loss to Bowdoin College.
This year the Jeffs were led by a pair of All-Americans, Co-captains Gretchen Bowe '01 and Mairin Brady '02. Bowe, who was also the NESCAC Player of the Year, led the Jeffs with 19 points on the season, even though she tore her ACL with five games remaining in the season. Brady had five goals, four assists and three defensive saves on the season and will return to captain the Jeffs next fall.
Goalkeeper Beth Sensing '02 was also named a second-team All-American. In 17 games played, Sensing allowed only 10 goals and recorded six shutouts.
Volleyball
The Firedogs dominated their competition and earned their second-straight NESCAC Championship and third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Firedogs, who were the most active Amherst team over the fall, finished their season 27-5. In the NCAA Tournament, they lost a five-game match to Bates College, the team they had beaten for the NESCAC title. After dropping the first set to the Bobcats, the Firedogs took the next two. After Bates won the fourth set, keeping their hopes alive, the two squads battled through the deciding fifth set. After ties as late as 13-all, the Bobcats won the next two points.
Leading the way for the Jeffs were juniors Meredith DeMeules and Erica Hewes. DeMeules was named first-team All-NESCAC for the second season in a row as she led the Firedogs with 1,017 assists, 270 digs and 136 kills on the season. Hewes, the team's best offensive player, led the Firedogs with 408 kills, 84 blocks and 65 digs.
Cross country
The Jeffs wrapped up a solid fall season with something that they had never achieved before-a trip to the NCAA Championships.
The women's team, after a third-place finish at the New England Regional that qualified them for nationals, finished 16th in the nation. Katie Scangos '02, who was a first-team All-NESCAC selection, paced the Jeffs by finishing in 16th place.
The men didn't make nationals, but their season was clearly not a loss. In the ECAC Championships the Jeffs narrowly missed winning, finishing in second place. Alex Lenkoski '03, Nathaniel Robinson '02 and Michael Page '04 finished in 13th, 14th and 15th places, respectively, to lead the Jeffs.
Men's tennis
The men's tennis team enjoyed a dominating fall campaign, finishing with a 4-1 record and first place at the ECAC North Championships.
In the ECAC Championships, the Jeffs dominated the whole singles ladder, winning three of the finals and sending players to two others. Bryan Wexler '02 won the first singles draw, Brian Chin '03 took the second and Rob Feeley '03 took home the title in the fifth spot.
Women's tennis
After advancing to the NCAA Final Four in the spring of 2000, the women's tennis team didn't skip a beat in their fall season. The Jeffs finished 6-1 on the season and finished second place at the New England Championships.
The fall was also a time of awards for the Jeffs. Co-captain Jamie Cohen '01 was named a 2000 Rolex Collegiate All-Star and also took home a Honda Award, an award which is given out to only an elite few in the country.
Coach Jackie Bagwell was also honored at the Third Annual Boston Sports Award Gala, where she was nominated for coach of the year. At the gala she was up against Jimy Williams of the Boston Red Sox, Pat Burns of the Boston Bruins and Maria DiClemente of the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. Bagwell has coached two consecutive national singles champions and has led the Jeffs to three straight Final Four appearances.
Golf
Both Lord Jeff golf teams had impressive fall seasons. The men's team finished second in the NESCAC by virtue of their runner-up finish at the conference championships. The Jeffs were led by Todd Ballaban '03, who placed second in the NESCAC with a two-day score of 159. Ballaban was named a first-team All-NESCAC selection.
In the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Tournament, a tournament attended by schools from all divisions in New England, the Jeffs finished 25th. Captain Mike Blaisdell '02 led the Jeffs with a 159.
On the women's team it was newcomer Kathryn Kuchefski '04 who led the team. Kuchefski led the Jeffs in each of their four matches, including the first-ever dual-meet between Amherst and Williams. The Jeffs beat the Ephs by 16 strokes on the day.