Head Coach Tom Carmean has been working with the team on holding onto the ball for longer periods of time. This will hopefully result in a more even tempo of play; of late the Jeffs have surged in the first half but found it difficult to score in the second.
"The idea behind this type of play is not necessarily to slow down the game. By holding the ball on offense, we are able to choose our shots more carefully and lessen the number of opportunities for the other team," said Rob Gibson '01.
Amherst was able to achieve this level of play in the first half of the Wesleyan game.
Saturday, the Jeffs went up against Little III powerhouse Wesleyan. Although Amherst came out on the losing side of a 6-9 score, the men were very pleased with their play in the first half. The team came together as a unit, especially the offense.
All the work on possession paid off, as the Jeffs forced the Cardinals to play defense for extended periods of time. At the end of the first period Amherst led 3-0, and at the end of the first half, the score was all tied up at four apiece. The Jeffs were looking primed for the upset.
Amherst played well again in the second half but could not seem to find the back of the net. Rob Gibson '01 and Mike Allison '04, who had two, and Matt Margolis '03 and Gene Nogi '02, who each had one, scored Amherst's goals. Co-captain Corey Simonson '01 came up big again, with 16 saves in all 60 minutes of the game.
"We really don't know what changes in the second half, we just aren't able to capitialize on our opportunites," said Gibson.
Gibson had two great games this past week. He finished up with a total of four goals, which helped Amherst stand strong against some tough competition. Also, defensemen Dave Greig '02 and Hein played superbly on defense. They were each guarding one of the two best attack men in the league for Wesleyan. Their quick footwork and stickwork took these offensive players out of the game and forced Wesleyan to look to someone else for scoring opportunities.
Last Wednesday, Amherst headed down to Hartford to face Trinity. The Jeffs lost the game by the score of 7-9 but were right in the game against the Bantams until the bitter end. Scoring for Amherst was Rob Gibson '01, who had two tallies, and Stephan Hein '03, Co-captain Eric Edelson '01, Nogi, Phil Cameron '02 and Chris Condlin '03, who each notched one.
Amherst took a 7-7 tie into the fourth period but fell victim to a couple of quick goals by Trinity. The Jeffs put up an amazing fight on defense, but unfortunately Trinity lucked out with some of their goals. Simonson came away with 17 saves for the day, once again being a solid backing for the Amherst defense.
Amherst will face down the squad from Tufts University in Medford today before taking on NESCAC rival Bowdoin College right here at home on Saturday.