At Roy Rike Field in Delaware, Ohio, Amherst succumbed to the Ohio Wesleyan Bishops, 1-0 in the NCAA Division III Championship game. The first and only goal came off the foot of Bishop midfielder Katy Sturtz in the 38th minute of play and came with a great deal of controversy.
In the first half, the Jeffs battled hard with the host Bishops. Each team had its scoring opportunities early, but shots were hard to come by. Striker Lee-Jay Henry '05 had a good scoring opportunity towards the end of the half, when she moved in one-on-one with the Ohio Wesleyan goaltender.
But the ball came up on Henry, and she was whistled for a handball, after she touched the ball with her shoulder. The play would prove to be crucial because, upon gaining possession, the Bishops moved the ball up field and ultimately netted the game-winner.
Ohio Wesleyan's Deborah Lochner played a long ball for Sturtz who, like Henry, used her shoulder to settle the ball. But the referee this time did not call a handball and Sturtz blasted a volley from the top of the box past Amherst goalkeeper Brooke Diamond '03 and into the upper left corner of the net. The score was 1-0 and would remain so for the rest of the game.
"It was an amazing shot, probably one of the best I have ever seen," said Diamond. "But the way she brought the ball down was really questionable."
Amherst came out strong after the break. "[We] did not play real well in the first half, but played very well in the second half," said Coach Morgan.
Maintaining control through most of the second period, Amherst fought hard, but had difficulty generating quality scoring chances until the final 15 minutes of the game.
Midfielder Jenny Rossman '04 took a corner kick and played it towards the far post for tri-captain midfielder Cathy Poor '02. The Rossman-to-Poor connection had consistently been the Jeffs' best source of offense the entire season.
Like so many corners before, Poor was able to put this kick into play too. Unfortunately, she struck it off the crossbar. Amherst regained possession and Poor got another chance, but she again played her shot off the iron. The Jeffs would pressure the Bishops for the remainder of the game, but could not find that elusive equalizer.
Despite the consistent pressure on the Bishop defense, Amherst managed only eight shots, and forced goaltender Mindy Hammond to make just one save. The Jeffs allowed just 11 Bishop shots, and Diamond recorded four saves.
A victory would have given Amherst, the nation's oldest athletic program, just its second NCAA team championship. The 1998-1999 women's tennis team won the first. "The loss was heartbreaking-it was the National Championship game. We were all very upset," said Poor, the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
Despite tying Sturtz with a tournament-high 14 points, Poor kept thinking about the two that didn't go in. "I have been reliving those shots for a week now and probably will continue to do so for some time. Who knows what would have happened if one of those shots had gone in," said Poor. "I think we would have gone on to win. I blame myself for not giving the team the chance to win it."
Coach Morgan chose not to dwell on the almosts, but rather what her team did accomplish. "I told the team that one game does not make the season," she said in a post-game speech.
"It is all of these achievements that you should remember, not the loss ... Great job. I am proud to be your coach," she added. In order to get to the championship game, Amherst had to get past Wheaton College (of Illinois) on Nov. 16.
They did so on a 73rd minute goal from Poor off a free kick from Rossman. Diamond turned aside six Wheaton shots for the shutout, her third of the tournament.
Three Jeffs were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team for their efforts: Poor, tri-captain back Margaret Rubin '02 and back Katharine Shipley '03. Poor, whose personal accomplishments this fall season were truly remarkable, was also named to the NESCAC Fall All-Academic Team.
"Personal awards do not mean anything compared to what we accomplished as a team this year," said Poor. "This team has given me the best and most fun season of my Amherst career. We have bonded and come together in a way that has not been there in the last three years. I cannot describe everything this team means to me, but they have given me a season and an experience I will never forget."
"I have never played with teammates who have as much heart and determination as our team this year. That comes mostly from the seniors," said Diamond. "Our season is the kind of story that Hollywood makes movies out of. There was only one thing missing-a happy ending."