There stood the Amherst women's soccer team, atop the small world known as the NESCAC. It was a 2001 campaign wracked by injury, marked by inconsistent play and nearly ended by a late slide that left the team wondering if it could in fact put together 90 minutes of soccer. But in the end, it took more than 90 minutes. It took 119.
In the championship game, the Jeffs were faced up against Williams College, owner of a 14-0 record and the top seed in the tournament.
Like the season itself, the championship game did not always seem to be firmly in the Jeffs' hands. Striker Adrienne Showler '05 got Amherst on the board early, taking a feed from midfielder Jenny Rossman '04, making a move to elude her defender, and ultimately beating the goaltender. Amherst was unable to add to its slim lead, and it would cost them.
The Ephs came out hard after the break, and the Jeffs seemed to be playing on their heels. Tri-captain midfielder Cathy Poor '02 summed up the difference: "They were in our end most of the second half, and it seemed like we were defending our lead." The relentless Williams attack finally produced a goal in the 84th minute. The Ephs had a corner kick, which led to a goal from C.C. Ciafone. Brittany Esty picked up the assist.
Williams kept the pressure on during the remainder of regulation and much of overtime. Goaltender Brooke Diamond '03 was forced to make a season-saving save in the 109th minute, off a point-blank shot from Eph Claire Samuel. Diamond, however, credits her defense for keeping the Williams barrage to a minimum. "It was the best our defense has played as a unit this year," she said.
As the defense kept Amherst in the game, the offense tried to find a way to break through for the game winner. In that fateful 119th minute, the Jeffs won a corner kick. Rossman, as she has done all year, played a ball perfectly towards the middle. Tri-captain back Margaret Rubin '02 headed it downwards into the fray. It bounced around a bit before coming to Montigny. And like so many times in her rookie season, she didn't miss. "Tracy was rushing the goal and just nailed it far post, perfect. It was a terrific goal," Rubin said.
Bedlam followed. The home crowd, big, loud and often hostile towards the visitors, looked on in shock as the team from Amherst celebrated. A jubilant Poor called the celebration "absolutely crazy. I was in a sea of people."
"To win the championship feels perfect," added Rubin. In order to get to the championship game, Amherst had to dispatch Middlebury College in the semifinal on Saturday. Tied at one in the second half, Poor lifted the team with two consecutive goals en route to an easy 5-1 victory. Montigny added two of her own late in the game to help seal the win. Striker Sarah O'Keefe '02 opened the scoring with a goal in the 67th minute.
On Monday, Montigny was recognized as NESCAC women's soccer Player of the Week. She recorded four goals and two assists in the tournament's three games, bringing her season total to 18 points, second on the team only to Poor's team-high 27.
Amherst is undoubtedly playing its best soccer of the season. When the Jeffs first played Middlebury on Oct. 6, they fell 2-1. Likewise, the Jeffs succumbed to the Ephs 2-0 in their first meeting of the year on October 13. But since that date, Amherst has ripped off an impressive five-game winning streak, scoring 21 goals and allowing just four. "Everyone really did pick up their intensity this weekend," said Diamond. "Our team has a strange way of picking up its level of play when the stakes are high."
The Jeffs have precious few days to bask in the glory of their NESCAC championship before they embark on their next mission: the NCAA tournament. Fourth-seed Amherst hosts fifth-seed and 16-5 Endicott College today at 1:00 p.m. The Power Gulls, the Commonwealth Coast Conference champions out of Beverly, Mass., make just their second NCAA appearance.
Head Coach Michelle Morgan's Jeffs are returning to the big dance for the sixth time. Should the Jeffs advance, they would journey to Wheaton College Saturday to take on the 20-0 Thunder. The New England Regional title will be up for grabs on Sunday, in a match that could potentially pit Amherst against Williams for their third meeting of the year. But Sunday is a long way from today.