Amherst came from behind on Friday night to defeat the visiting Trinity College Bantams 2-1 and then earned a hard-fought tie from Wesleyan University in a Saturday matinee at Orr Rink. By earning three of the possible four points, the Jeffs have all but assured themselves of a spot in the first-ever NESCAC tournament.
When Trinity came to town Friday night, Amherst had not forgotten the 3-2 overtime loss they had suffered at the hands of the Bantams earlier in the season. This time around, the Jeffs fell behind 1-0 on a goal late in the first period from Jessica Martin.
But Amherst answered back midway through the second period when tri-captain forward Danielle Williams '03 found the back of the net. Forwards Tory Serues '04 and Annie Grabowski '05 picked up the assists.
But the Jeffs weren't satisfied with the tie as they kept the pressure on. Late in the second period, Serues gave her team the lead for good with a winning goal on assists from forward Ellie Roe '05 and defender Lauren Caldwell '05. Tri-captain goaltender Heidi Alexander '03 made an outstanding 25 of her 32 saves in the final two periods to help preserve the tenuous Amherst lead.
Alexander would have to be even bigger in net the next day, when the Wesleyan Cardinals bombarded her with 48 shots. In perhaps her most important performance of the season, Alexander stopped all but one0 and Amherst ended up skating with Wesleyan to the 1-1 tie.
The Jeffs dominated play early on, keeping the visiting Cardinals in their own end for much of the first period. Midway through the opening frame, the Jeffs were finally able to break through offensively for a goal.
The puck came to defenseman Amanda Muller '04 just inside the Cardinal blue line and she fired a long-range wrist shot on net, merely hoping for a rebound that her teammates might be able to put in.
There was no rebound necessary, however, as Wesleyan goalie Elizabeth Courtney misplayed the bouncing puck, allowing it to ricochet off her stick, over her left shoulder and just underneath the crossbar. Caldwell and defender Sarah Mason '05 picked up the assists on the play.
The game remained 1-0 until the middle of the second period, a period dominated by the visiting Cardinals. Wesleyan sharpshooter Anna Siliciano got the puck at the bottom of the right circle and fired a rocket over the left shoulder of Alexander and into the back of the net for the goal. It was the only goal that she would allow in this game.
Siliciano got the puck in almost the same spot just a few minutes later and let loose a similar shot, this time high to the stick side. Fortunately for the Jeffs, it deflected off the iron, right where the post meets the crossbar.
The game remained tied going into the third period, when Alexander took over. She made save after save, many in spectacular fashion.
The game went into overtime, but neither team could tally the elusive game-winner and Amherst settled for the draw.
The weekend's win and tie put the Jeffs at 5-12-1 (4-10-1) on the season. They now occupy fifth place in the NESCAC standings and, barring miracle turnarounds from some of the conference's weaker teams, Amherst should make the conference playoffs.
Both the players and the coach are looking forward to the playoffs. "We are really excited about the opportunity to go into the playoffs after working so hard this season," said Muller.
"It was a huge weekend for us," said Head Coach Kay Cowperthwait. "These women have worked extremely hard this season, and this weekend was a great time for that hard work to pay off."
"I feel that we've improved an incredible amount over the course of the season," added Sereus.
Amherst has some time to make tune-ups before its final conference game at Hamilton College on Feb. 16.
The Jeffs host crosstown rival UMass today, Boston University on Friday and New England College on Saturday. Saturday's game will be the final game at Orr Rink for tri-captain defenseman Hilary Zwerdling '02, a four-year player and a two-year captain.
"She has been a huge contributor to our team for four years, and she will be tough to replace," said Cowperthwait.