The team hosted Tufts University last Wednesday, and the Jeffs took a quick lead. At the half they were leading 7-3, but Tufts mounted a furious comeback, winning 10-9.
In the first half Amherst played a strong and dominating game, scoring goals early and often. However, they ran out of steam in the second half. Amherst only managed two goals compared to the seven they scored in the first half. Tufts was able to add seven goals and squeak out a close victory. The Jeffs' goals were scored by Co-captain Eric Edelson '01, who had a hat trick and Chris Condlin '03, Rob Gibson '01 and Gene Nogi '02, who each had a pair.
Tufts scored the winning goal with 2:31 remaining in the game, coming away with a victory from what had earlier seemed destined to be defeat.
On Saturday, the Jeffs faced a challenging Bowdoin College team. The two schools were very evenly matched, but Amherst came out on the wrong side of a 10-5 score. The team had trouble finding their rhythm.
The Jeffs tried to mount a comeback in the fourth period, firing 15 shots on net, but they were unable to hit the back of the net often enough to pull out the victory.
Condlin, Matt Margolis '03, Craig McBeth '04, Tucker Sowers '03 and Harlow Voorhees '02 each scored a goal in the losing effort.
The Jeffs now find themselves at 5-5, 2-5 in NESCAC play. The team only needs one more win to be able to play in the NESCAC tournament, and they have two chances this week.
The Jeffs take on Conn College tomorrow at home and then travel to archrival Williams College this weekend. Both teams will provide the Jeffs good competition.
"Any game is winnable if we are able to put everything together and play strong for an entire game," said Co-captain Corey Simonson '01.
The Jeffs are close to finally putting a whole game together, and they will have to in order to take down either Conn or Williams. The offense and the defense need to get into a rhythm in which they can connect and put together consecutive passes.
"We need to find the fire and passion we had when we played against Whittier in California," said Simonson. Against Whittier, the Jeffs mounted a late comeback after trailing for most of the game, winning by a final score of 7-6.