On Friday night, the Bowdoin College Polar Bears paid Amherst a visit and left town with a 4-0 victory. Both teams skated to a scoreless first period in which Amherst allowed fourteen shots on goal. Co-captain defenseman Hilary Zwerdling '02 was proud of the way her team came out in the opening period. "It was the best hockey I have ever seen our team play in four years," she said. But Bowdoin scored three goals in the second period and added another in the third to secure the win.
Saturday's game with Colby followed a similar pattern. The Jeffs came out playing well, but defensive lapses late in the first period led to two quick Colby tallies in the final minute.
A scary moment came for the Jeffs midway through the second period when forward Alison White '04, attempting to play the rebound of her own shot, fell headlong into the boards. White, who lay still on the ice for several minutes, spent the rest of the game off the ice but should be back in the lineup for the Jeffs this week.
"I think the incident upset our momentum for the rest of the second period and we didn't play our best," said Head Coach Kay Cowperthwait. The Jeffs allowed two goals after the injury to White, one at 15:54 and the next at 17:47.
One bright spot for Amherst was the first goal of the season for forward Bess Kargman '04. Zwerdling took a pass from forward Tory Serues '04 and gained the blue line before firing a long-range wrist shot. The shot was blocked by a Mule defender, but the deflection came to a streaking Kargman. The forward fired a wrister from the right circle that beat Colby goaltender Lynn Hasday. "I just saw a little space in the opposite side of the net," said Kargman. The goal came at 18:48 of the second period.
However, Colby would hang on for the 4-1 win. Despite being outscored on the weekend 8-1 and outshot 86-26, the Jeffs were largely pleased with their play. "I think, overall, the team is still confident and motivated after the weekend," said Cowperthwait. "We played well against two very good teams."
"We definitely have a renewed sense of motivation after the games," added Zwerdling. "Although the scores don't necessarily show it, we're really proving our own in the league and teams are surprised."
Despite facing a staggering 45 shots per game in the team's four losses, goaltender Heidi Alexander '03 relishes her role. "I love being under the constant pressure of lots of shots by our opponents. It keeps me focused, plus it is why I play hockey, it is what I love," said Alexander. "These games did nothing but give us even more confidence."
Somewhat less impressed with their play was Kargman. "There were definitely positive aspects to our play this weekend, but we couldn't capitalize on our opportunities," she said.
Amherst, a team that at the beginning of the season resolved not to allow any goals in the first or last two minutes of a period, allowed three such goals this weekend. While the Jeffs are pleased to be playing solidly, they'll have to cut down on mental errors if they hope to win these close games.
Amherst will have a chance to do just that when they host Holy Cross tonight at Orr Rink. Then the Jeffs go on the road for two crucial NESCAC battles this weekend, visiting Trinity College on Friday and Wesleyan University on Saturday.