Amherst started the game in control, dominating the first half of play with Williams. But as has often been the case, they were unable to capitalize on any of their scoring opportunities. "We had our opportunities but didn't take advantage of them," said Tri-captain midfielder Cathy Poor '02. This inability to score would soon cost the Jeffs. It didn't take Williams long to get on the board in the second half. In the 47th minute, Williams' Claire Samuel opened the scoring with an unassisted tally. The one-goal deficit would prove to be too much for Amherst to overcome. Samuel added another goal in the closing moments of the game to seal the victory for Williams. Marlene Bonasera and Stacey Starner got the assists.
"We really started off well and completely dominated first-half play ... But in the second half it was a different story. [The Ephs] responded and began to win balls from us and pressure us much, much more," said goaltender Brooke Diamond '03. Poor also pointed out "the difference between our great play in the first half and our not-so-great play in the second half."
Diamond, who notched 12 saves in the game, expressed both frustration and encouragement afterwards. "I think we were all disappointed by the way things turned out, but it showed us that we can play with and dominate the top team in our league," she said. The win improves Williams' record to a perfect 10-0 (7-0). Amherst drops to 6-4-1 (4-3-1) with the loss.
On Oct. 9, Amherst visited the Tufts University Jumbos. The Jeffs showed a flair for the dramatic as a late goal from striker Lee-Jay Henry '05 pulled them in front for good. The Jeffs used pinpoint passing to move the ball up the field before Henry found the back of the net. Striker Sarah O'Keefe '02 was credited with the only assist, but Poor also helped to set up the play.
Amherst jumped out to the lead late in the first half on a goal from Poor. Midfielder Jenny Rossman '04 served up a corner kick that Poor got a head on and deflected into the net. Tufts came back to tie it up early in the second with a goal from Elizabeth Tooley, assisted by Jess Trombly. The game remained tied until Henry netted the game winner in the 79th minute. The Jeffs won 2-1.
Preceding the Tufts matchup was another big game against a conference opponent. On Oct. 6 the Jeffs fell to the Panthers of Middlebury College 2-1 at home. Middlebury came away with the win on the strength of two second-half goals. Panther Meg Bonney opened the scoring in the 57th minute with her Middlebury-record 30th career goal. Stacy Brendtro added to the Middlebury lead with a tally of her own in the 72nd minute. But Amherst fought right back in the 75th minute, cutting the lead in half on a goal from Poor, Amherst's leading scorer. Midfielder Sara Elkins '04 picked up the assist. But the Amherst offense, which generated eight corner kicks and 11 shots, was unable to find the equalizer in the remaining 15 minutes of play.
Goals, however, were not difficult to come by in Amherst's contest with non-conference opponent Massachusetts College on Oct. 3. The Jeffs romped to a 9-0 victory against the hapless Mohawks. The story was the return of a couple of veterans. Tri-captain midfielder Hallison Putnam '02 found herself in her customary midfield position, after filling in for the injured Diamond for much of the season. Putnam wasted no time returning to the scoring column, notching the first of two goals in just the fifth minute of play. She also added an assist. Diamond returned to the lineup after missing six games. She was solid, recording three saves in the shutout win.
Sifting through the numbers, 12 Jeffs figured in the scoring on goals from seven different players. Amherst barraged the Mohawk goaltender Beth Conroy with 28 shots and six corner kicks. The Jeff defense allowed only three shots.
The Jeffs will not have to travel far for their next game, visiting local foe Mount Holyoke College tomorrow. This Saturday, Amherst hosts Little Three rival Wesleyan University in their regular season finale before what should be a healthy Homecoming crowd.