After closing out their regular season with a four-game winning streak, including Saturday's overtime win at Wesleyan University that captured the Little III Championship title outright for the Jeffs, the season came to a crashing halt yesterday, with Amherst's 1-0 loss to arch-rival Williams College in the quarterfinals of the first NESCAC tournament.
With the loss, the Jeffs finish their 2000 campaign with a 9-5-1 record, a season that was full of ups and downs.
Before Tuesday's finale, the last week of the regular season had been one of ups for the Jeffs, including last Thursday's 4-0 thrashing of Mount Holyoke College and Saturday's dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Wesleyan University. Against Wesleyan, the Jeffs received the offense-and the heroics-from a familiar source, midfielder Cathy Poor '02.
"She just has guts, that's really the only way I can put it," said Head Coach Michelle Morgan. "She never gives up."
Poor certainly didn't give up on Saturday, despite being limited to 58 minutes of playing time by a foot injury later diagnosed as two separate stress fractures in her left foot. Seventeen minutes into the opening half, Poor converted a feed from Hallison Putnam '02 to give the Jeffs the early lead, in a game they dominated on both ends of the ball.
Yet, despite dominating possession, the Jeffs were unable to extend their lead, and Wesleyan equalized midway through the second half, on only the second of their three shots on the day.
The Cardinals had a chance to win it late, but a long shot from the right wing was punched off the crossbar by Amherst goalie Brooke Diamond '03, and back out into play, where it was cleared.
In overtime, Poor played the hero, netting her 25th career goal-and first in overtime-with a header off a Katie Shipley '03 free kick four minutes into the extra session.
The goal, her 11th of the season, broke Amherst's single-season scoring record, previously held by Katie Hersey '99, with 10.
Thanks to the win over Wesleyan, the Jeffs earned the fourth seed in the first-ever NESCAC tournament, resulting in a home game yesterday against the Ephs. There, Amherst's role was reversed from Saturday's win.
The visitors dominated the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Amherst 8-1.
Diamond came up with a pair of big saves, however, and the game went to halftime scoreless.
In the second half, both of the teams had their chances, including an apparent goal from Laura Raybould '02 in the 73rd minute that was waved off due to an offsides call.
Finally, just into the 87th minute, Williams broke through, when sophomore striker Stacey Starner pounced on a rebound in front of the goalmouth and finished it to give the Ephs the lead.
"Williams came out in a 3-4-3 formation, which was a smart coaching move that we had trouble adjusting to," said Morgan.
The Jeffs would have their chances late, however, the best of which was a penalty kick from Putnam in the 89th minute that skirted high of the crossbar.
In the end, Williams held on, and, just like that, the 2000 season-and the careers of senior Co-captains Alexa Faigen and Meg Riley-had ended.
"It's always tough to lose seniors, and Meg and Alexa have stayed with the program for four long years, and have always been contributors," said Morgan.
For their careers, Faigen and Riley were part of two NCAA Tournament teams, tabulating a four-year record of 43-13-7.