The Lord Jeffs took to the ice Nov. 22 for their first game against Little III rival Williams. The Ephs scored early, posting one goal eight minutes into the first period and two more in the second. The Jeffs' offense chipped away at the Ephs' three goal lead in the third period when forward Tory Serues '04 netted the Jeffs' first goal of the season when she fired the puck through the legs the Eph goalie. Alison White '04 and Renee Sisti '06 assisted on the goal. However, Williams responded with another goal three minutes later to secure the 4-1 victory.
"It was exciting to score against Williams," said Serues, crediting White and Sisti for having set up a golden offensive opportunity.
"Williams was physically tough to play. They hit hard and they hit well," said Amanda Mattei '06.
Following the Williams contest, Amherst resumed their winter campaign by hosting Middlebury, the fifth-ranked team in the country. Co-captain forward Danielle Williams '03 gave the team a quick 1-0 lead 11:10 into the first period as she notched her first goal of the season on an unassisted, sharp-angled wrister from the right circle through the legs of Panther goalie Kate Kogut. However, the Panthers came back with a vengeance. Despite a stellar performance from the Jeffs' goalie, senior co-captain Heidi Alexander, who had 28 saves on the day, the Panthers scored five goals during the second period and racked up another four in the third for a dominating 9-1 win.
Despite the commanding lead that Middlebury was able to amass, the Jeffs' maintained their competitive spirit and game faces. "It's hard to stay focused and excited through the entire game when you're playing a team that's that much better," said Serues. "But we performed pretty well. Every year we're getting closer to making it an equal match."
"[Playing against] Middlebury, they were all skill. Having to hit Williams and finesse Middlebury [meant that] we had to play two different games," said Mattei. But having to adjust to two dominating opponents with distinct strengths allowed the Jeffs' to demonstrate the versatile nature of their talent. "Against Williams, we showed that we can hold our own physically, and against Middlebury, we showed that we could pull through until the end," Mattei said.
Both Williams and Middlebury defeated Amherst twice during the 2001-02 season, shutting out the Jeffs in all four games. This season's offensive efforts reflect an improvement upon last year's games and fuel a hopeful sense of anticipation for a second round of competition against these two perennial NESCAC powers.
The Amherst team followed their mini-homestand with a two-game series at Connecticut College on Nov. 30. They hoped to rival the same level of success attained in competitive play during the 2001-02 season.
The Jeffs tied the Camels 2-2 in the first game of the series.
With an assist from Williams, Leah Kaplan '06 opened the scoring column with the first goal of her collegiate career 3:40 into the game. Serues added to the lead midway through the second period, assisted by White and Mattei.
The Camels came back with a vengeance less than a minute later, cutting the Jeffs' lead in half, and then tying the game after another minute.
Neither team scored in the third period, or in the overtime. Amherst's defense was bolstered by Alexander's 42 saves, including six during an overtime in which Conn. outshot Amherst six to one.
In a role reversal the next day, Conn. jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first period. This time, it was Amherst's turn to respond, and Jeff forward Ellie Roe '05 did, scoring 5:31 into the second period. Classmate Bethany Croy had the assist.
Sisti followed up with two goals of her own, building up a 3-2 lead over the Camels. Once again, the Jeffs could not hold on for the win, as the Camels evened things up with 1:46 left to play. Again, neither team managed to score in overtime.
"We played well this weekend. I don't think anyone was disappointed in our performance," said Serues. "But we were hoping to beat [Conn.] again-It was frustrating to tie both matches, but it's not the end of the world."
"Amherst hockey is pretty young. We'd just like to do better, win more games, and do better against the tougher teams," said Serues.
Amherst travels to Maine to face Colby College on Dec. 6. The White Mules defeated the Jeffs twice last season. But with their bold, unwavering attitude and an intensity that surpasses any experienced in previous years, the Jeffs promise to put on an impressive performance.
"Colby is usually pretty tough," said Serues. "We're going into it hoping we'll play our best and beat them for the first time in a while."