Football
The old adage goes that offense may win games, but defense wins championships. Well, there was no championship for the football team this fall, but behind a stellar defense the Jeffs ran up a 7-1 record.
Over the first five weeks of the season, the Jeffs were the best defensive team in the nation. In wins over Hamilton, Bowdoin, Middlebury and Colby Colleges and Little III rival Wesleyan University, the Jeffs allowed a total of six points, without surrendering a single touchdown. The closest of these games was a 7-3 nail-biter over Middlebury. The win avenged a 17-0 loss from the year before.
In the weeks leading up to the showdown with Williams College, Tufts University and Trinity College were able to find a way to score against the vaunted Jeffs' defense, with each team scoring 10 points in losses.
So the Jeffs entered the final game of the season undefeated and looking to beat Williams for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, the Ephs bounced back from their first defeat to Amherst in 14 years to down the Jeffs in the 2001 edition of the "Biggest Little Game in America." The Jeffs took a commanding lead into the half, but Williams was able to claw back throughout the second half and tie the game in the fourth quarter. In overtime the Jeffs struck first, knocking in a field goal on their first possession, but were never able to get the ball back, as the Ephs ended the classic contest with a touchdown.
While the Jeffs ended the season 7-1, many of their players received postseason awards. Quad-captain Pat McGee '02 led the way, with awards including NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year and Hewlett-Packard Third Team All-American. The Jeffs placed seven players on the All-NESCAC first team, with five players making the conference second team.
Men's soccer
The men's soccer team fought through a number of key injuries this season to qualify for the NESCAC Tournament for the second consecutive season.
The Jeffs started their season on a roll, winning their first four games. The Jeffs then played three straight double overtime games, tying two of them and falling to Tufts in the third. The Jeffs were often hard luck losers in the final weeks of the season, ending the year on a 3-4 slide. But with a record of 7-5-2, they qualified for the conference tournament.
In the tournament, the Jeffs played another double overtime thriller against Bowdoin College, with which they had tied 0-0 in two extra frames earlier in the year. But this time, the Polar Bears were able to pull out a 3-2 victory.
Senior tri-captains Ryan Goodband and Adrian Talbott were both injured, which caused them to sit out for much of the season. But in their absence, a number of underclassmen stepped up to fill the void. Andrew Syfu '05 was the most notable performer of the underclassmen, who, following in the footsteps of fellow teammate Franklin Perry '04, was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. Perry continued his prominent play and was named second team All-NESCAC. Goodband, despite missing a number of games at the end of the season, was the Jeffs' sole representative on the All-Conference first team, while Tim Canon '04 and Carlo Valdesolo '03 joined Perry on the second team.
Women's soccer
The women's soccer team excelled in the fall, notching the best season in the history of the program. The Jeffs put together an improbable run through the postseason, winning the NESCAC Tournament by knocking off favored opponents Williams and Middlebury Colleges, before they finally bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the championship game.
The Jeffs were led by senior tri-captain Cathy Poor, who leaves Amherst as the school's all time leader in goals and points. Tri-captains Margaret Rubin '02 and Hallison Putnam '02 provided the necessary leadership for a very young team. Three other freshman strikers, Tracy Montigny, Lee-Jay Henry and Adrienne Showler played vital roles in the offense.
Heading into the NCAA Tournament championship game, the Jeffs were riding high on eight consecutive victories. The game's only goal came 38 minutes into the first half. After Henry was called for a handball, the Bishops moved the ball upfield. In a controversial though amazing play, Ohio Wesleyan's Deborah Lochner used her shoulder to settle a ball-the same maneuver that got Henry called for a handball-before blasting a volley from the top of the box.
The Jeffs would have a number of scoring chances in the second half but would fail to tie the game. Despite the loss, Amherst could take solace in a number of accomplishments. Poor was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Head Coach Michelle Morgan was also named NCAA Division III New England Coach of the Year.
Field hockey
The women's field hockey team, traditionally one of the best teams on campus, enjoyed another successful season in the fall of 2001.
After stumbling out of the gate with a loss in their first game of the season, the Jeffs ripped off eight consecutive victories. The Jeffs fell in two of their next three games, including a game against Williams, but finished the regular season by winning their final two games. In the conference tournament the Jeffs avenged their loss to Colby with a 2-1 win in the first round and then they took out top-seeded Middlebury in the semifinals. The Jeffs fell to Williams again in the final, ending the season 13-4.
Leading the way for the Jeffs were senior tri-captains Mairin Brady, Marcy Busch and Anne Close. Brady was named an All-American for the second season in a row, as she was named to the third team. Busch and Abby Ouimet '03, the team's leading scorer on the season, were both named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Regional All-American team. Close led the defense in front of goalie Beth Sensing '02, who notched seven shutouts on the season.
Volleyball
The Firedogs, the busiest team on campus during the fall, ran roughshod over their competition for much of the season, finishing the year 24-7.
Coming out of the gate, the Firedogs started the season sizzling, going 18-2 in their first 20 contests. Although the team's pace slowed during the final weeks of the season, the Firedogs entered the NESCAC Tournament as the number three seed. In the first round they took down Colby, but they were unable to advance past Williams in the semifinals. Williams and Wesleyan proved to be dual nemeses for the Jeffs, with six of the seven Jeffs losses coming from Little III opponents.
Co-captains Meredith DeMueles '02 and Erica Hewes '02 led the way for the Firedogs, with Hewes named to the first team for the third consecutive year and DeMueles named to the second team.
The graduating senior class leaves Amherst as the winningest class in the history of the program, with a four year record of 105-23. Included in these four years were three NCAA Tournament bids, and two NESCAC titles.
Cross country
Entering the season the Jeffs had high expectations on the trail. While it was expected that the women would field a strong team, the men's success came as a surprise.
The female harriers had a very successful season, culminating with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships. Coming off of a third place finish at the All-New England meet and a first place finish at the ECAC Championships, the Jeffs ran well at Augustana College in their final meet of the year.
The women's team was powered by the emergence of Carter Hamill '05, who set the pace all fall and was named All-NESCAC along with Martha Nelson '03.
The men were not expected to match the women's success entering the season, and while they were a step behind most of the way, they enjoyed a successful season. Finishing second at the ECAC Championships and 10th in New England, the Jeffs were led by co-captains Ben Kozyak '02 and Rusty Ryan '02.
Tennis
The men's and women's tennis teams both performed well in the fall season, preparing themselves for the longer spring season on the way.
The men's team finished the fall season with a disappointing 1-2 record, but both of their losses came against Division I opponents. The lone victory of the season came against Brandeis University, with the Jeffs pounding the Judges 6-1.
The women's team, coming off of a trip to the NCAA Final Four the spring before, rolled through the fall season. With a 4-1 record, the Jeffs won three of their matches by a shutout, and their only loss was a very close 5-4 defeat to Williams.
The women finished their season on a high note, winning the New England Championship in their last event of the season.
Golf
In the abbreviated fall season, both the men's and women's golf teams had good results.
The women's team competed in four events and took home a pair of top 10 finishes, including a win at the Lady Eph Invitational. Led by captain Jaime Ratner '02, the Jeffs saved their best play for last, and that carried over into the spring season.
The men's team competed in six events in the fall and took home four top 10 finishes. The highlight of the fall was the team's second place finish at the NESCAC Invitational, where they were led by captain Mike Blaisdell '02, who finished in third place overall for the tournament.