The latest dramatics came on Sunday, when Tri-captain midfielder Cathy Poor '02 netted the game-winner in the fourth minute of double overtime to win the regional championship and defeat Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), 2-1. But before that stunning win, Amherst romped to a 6-0 first-round victory over Endicott College, right before taking on undefeated Wheaton College and emerging with an impressive 4-1 win.
The Jeffs opened the scoring of the regional championship game against WCSU in the 34th minute of play. As Tri-captain midfielder Hallison Putnam '02, midfielder Jenny Rossman '04 and striker Tracy Montigny '05 worked the ball up the field, Montigny was fouled by a WCSU defender, drawing a free kick from just outside the box. Rossman took the kick, moving the ball towards Poor at the far post. Poor's header nestled in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
"Jenny Rossman drove a beautiful ball to the far post. I got up for the head and just squeaked it inside the post," said Poor.
The Amherst lead held up for the remainder of the first half. But in the second period, WCSU came out strong and knotted the contest in the 60th minute.
WCSU star Heather Babbington played the rebound of a shot that had deflected off the post and subsequently buried it in the back of the net. Stacey Rogenski was credited with the assist.
Despite scoring opportunities for both sides, the game would remain tied for the remainder of regulation and the first overtime period.
In the second overtime, Amherst found its scoring touch. The Jeffs worked the ball around in enemy territory, moving the ball from midfielder Sara Elkins '04 to Rossman and on to Montigny. Montigny found Poor on the opposite side of the box, and Poor one-timed the pass into the open goalmouth. "[Poor] hit a great shot right into the middle of a wide-open goal. The keeper never had a chance," said Montigny.
"We came out especially flat in the beginning of the second half, but we still didn't give up," said Rossman. "I don't think that WCSU was an incredibly skilled team, but they sure had heart. They were the toughest competition we've come up against besides Williams," Montigny added.
The day before Amherst's win over WCSU, the Jeffs battled Wheaton College. The numbers indicated that Amherst was the underdog; Wheaton held the number-one seed in the seven-team grouping and had enjoyed a 20-0 season until Saturday. They had also allowed just five goals all year, compared to the 100 goals they scored themselves. But Amherst was unphased by the statistics. The Jeffs torched the stingy Wheaton defense for four goals en route to the 4-1 triumph.
Amherst striker Lee-Jay Henry '05 opened the scoring with an unassisted tally in the 46th minute. The Amherst lead would prove to be short-lived, however. Wheaton stormed back for the tying goal just three minutes later. But then the Jeffs exploded on their own scoring run, posting three goals in 11 minutes. The first came from Montigny off a pass from midfielder Katelyn McCabe '03 in the 62nd minute. Montigny added a second in the 72nd minute, but this time the assist went to striker Adrienne Showler '05. In the next minute, Elkins scored an unassisted goal to help ice the game for the upstart Jeffs. "The feeling of crushing the third-ranked team in the nation was fantastic!" said Montigny.
On Wednesday, Amherst cruised to a 6-0 home win over Endicott College to begin the NCAA tournament. The win was one of eight consecutive victories for the Jeffs, who haven't lost since Williams defeated them on Oct. 13.
The players are understandably optimistic about their chances in the Elite Eight. "We are proud of what we've accomplished in the past three weeks," said Poor. "These last three weeks have given us lots of experience ... in fighting until the end and confidence in our abilities. We are just taking it one game at a time."
The Jeffs will next face William Smith College in Geneseo, N.Y. this Saturday. William Smith will enter the contest coming off a win against Union College on Sunday.