"What's gone wrong with the team is that we've made the game more difficult than it really is," said Erik DiNardo '03. "We overthink things and are worried about too many other things, rather than just playing. We need to get back to the basics and just have some fun."
In the past weekend of action, the Jeffs fell twice to non-conference opponents. On Friday night, the team fell victim to New England College (NEC) because they were unable to protect their lead late in the game-this has been one of their main problems throughout the season. After surrendering a goal less than 15 seconds into the game to NEC, the Jeffs came back and scored the next three goals.
Beau Kretzman '05 tallied the Jeffs first two goals of the game. The first came midway through the first period off of an assist from co-captain Greg Carr '02, while the second came on an assist from Erich Schram '03 with a two man advantage in the second period. The Jeffs added their third goal when Jonathan Hill '05 scored on assists from Bob Miele '02 and Kretzman.
But, in the final period, the Jeffs were unable to hold off NEC, allowing three unanswered goals. In their previous game, the Jeffs fell victim to the same sequence of events. Against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), the Jeffs took a commanding 4-0 lead in the third period behind goals from Bill Jenkins '05, Kretzman, Mike Kreger '04 and Scott Aldrich '05. MCLA then stormed back with four unanswered goals in a four-minute span during the third period, but Kretzman gave the Jeffs another lead when he scored with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
But MCLA wasn't finished, as Nick Cote completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal with just over a minute to play. Neither team was able to score in the extra period and the Jeffs walked away with a disappointing tie.
In their most recent game, the Jeffs fell behind St. Anselm's College in the first period and they were never able to claw back into the game. The Hawks opened up a two goal advantage in the opening frame, but the only offense the Jeffs were able to muster was a power play goal from Hill. The Hawks added three goals in the final period, sending the Jeffs to another loss.
Earlier in the break, the Jeffs took on a number of top-notch national opponents, including the defending national champions, Plattsburgh State College. Although the Jeffs stayed close in the first 30 minutes of the game, allowing only one goal, Plattsburgh scored five unanswered goals to take an insurmountable 6-0 lead. The Jeffs were able to score two goals in the final five minutes of the game by Kretzman and Kreger, but by then it was too little, too late.
After the loss to Plattsburgh, the Jeffs bounced back with a win over NESCAC and Little III rival Wesleyan University.
The Jeffs opened up the scoring early on in the game when Miele scored just 48 seconds into the first period, but the Cardinals evened the score midway through that same period. But behind strong games from Miele, who finished with two goals and an assist, and DiNardo, who had the game winning goal and two assists, the Jeffs were able to pull out a 5-1 victory.
After beating the Cardinals, the Jeffs next played host to Trinity College. The two teams met in early season action at the Spurrier Tournament held at Wesleyan, where the Bantams emerged victorious and the result was the same in their second matchup. Trinity jumped out to a 1-0 lead just before the first intermission, but the Jeffs added goals from Kretzman and Justin Pitrack '03 to take the lead. Unfortunately, this lead was short-lived as the Bantams scored twice in the final 25 minutes of the game to take an important conference victory.
While the season has been a disappointment thus far, there is still hope that things can get turned around. Currently, the Jeffs are in a seventh place tie with Connecticut College in the NESCAC. The top seven teams make the conference tournament at the conclusion of the season and, because the automatic NCAA bid from the conference goes to the tournament winner, there is still hope for the team. Although the Jeffs have a difficult road to the tournament-they still have to face off against some of the top teams in the conference-their destiny is in their hands.
"We have a tough schedule ahead of us and right now we are battling with Conn. College for the last playoff spot, so the playoffs are still very much in our minds," said DiNardo. "The goal right now is to make the playoffs and we need a solid effort and execution level from everyone on the team and no one is planning on packing it in."
The biggest bright spot has been the emergence of Kretzman. The top offensive producer for the Jeffs, Kretzman is currently second in the league in scoring, with 32 points on 19 goals and 13 assists, and is the top goal scorer in the conference.
"Beau has continued to shine," said Justin Jagher '03. "But other freshmen like Scott Aldrich, Jon Hill and Brad Craigen have stepped up as well."
The Jeffs next take on Williams and Middlebury Colleges this weekend in a difficult road trip. Middlebury is the top team in the conference and Williams has rebounded from a disappointing season last year to be in the midst of the playoff race this season.
"We control our own destiny," added Jagher. "If we win, we're in."