However, with five games remaining on their NESCAC schedule, the Jeffs are still in a strong position to battle for the seventh and final playoff spot in the NESCAC tournament.
The Minnesota road trip began in St. Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 7, where Amherst visited Hamline University. The Jeffs jumped out to an early lead on a first period goal from forward Leah Kaplan '06, her second of the season. However, the hosts answered back quickly with a goal of their own from Allison Rime early in the second period, knotting the game at one.
The Jeffs bombarded the Hamline net with shot after shot, registering 43 overall, but could not score again. Hamline goaltender Rachael Young made 42 saves, while her counterpart at the other end of the ice, co-captain Heidi Alexander '03, notched 17 of her own. The Jeffs were unable to capitalize on a late five-on-three power play and settled for the 1-1 tie.
The following day the Jeffs visited the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis and fell 5-0 to the host Tommies. After allowing three goals on 20 shots in the first period, the Minnesota native Alexander sparkled in net, turning aside all but two of the 40 shots she faced in the final two periods. But Amherst could muster little offensively, recording just four shots on goal.
The Jeffs enjoyed an off-day before completing their whirlwind Minnesota tour Fri., Jan. 10, at Augsburg College, where they fell 6-0. Once again, Amherst had late chances, but Augsburg was able to score three shorthanded goals to put the game out of reach. Lauren Chezick was a strong force on the night with three goals and two assists.
Amherst finally returned home the following week to meet the Cardinals of Wesleyan University on Fri., Jan. 17. The Jeffs were happy to be home, too, as they got their first win of the season on the strength of a late Kaplan goal. The game was scoreless after two periods, but the Jeffs took the lead on a goal from forward Tory Serues '04 6:39 into the third. Forwards Allison White '04 and Annie Grabowski '05 picked up the assists on the play. But the crucial first win would not come easy for Amherst.
With forward Jess Matthews '06 in the penalty box, Liza Eckels scored her first goal of the year to tie the game at one. However, the Jeffs answered back in dramatic fashion. Co-captain forward Danielle Williams '03 took a shot that Wesleyan goaltender Elizabeth Courtney stopped but couldn't control. The rookie Kaplan pounced on the rebound and stuffed it in with 2:51 to play. Williams was credited with the assist. Alexander made the lead stand up for Amherst, and the Jeffs were owners of their first win of the season.
Amherst was at home the following day as well, this time hosting Trinity College. The Jeffs played well and held the lead midway through the third period, but were unable to stave off the Bantams and ultimately fell 3-2 in overtime. Trinity got on the board first, but Amherst answered back quickly with a goal from forward Sarah Mason '05, her first of the season. The score was 1-1 in the third period when Williams broke through for her fourth goal of the year to give Amherst the lead.
But Trinity soon tied the game at two. The Jeffs had two power plays late in regulation, but were unable to capitalize. With the game in overtime, Kristy Hadeka stunned the Jeffs and those in attendance at Orr Rink by putting home the game winner.
"Losing in overtime to Trinity was a heartbreaker," said Williams. "Especially after we dominated play the entire game."
The busy NESCAC schedule afforded Amherst little time to lick their wounds, as Amherst visited Hamilton College on Tue., Jan. 21. The host Continentals dominated throughout, scoring five times in the first period and adding three more in the third on their way to an 8-2 rout. The lone bright spot for Amherst was the rookie Matthews, who scored her first and second career goals in the contest.
The schedule only got harder for Amherst, as the Jeffs visited Middlebury College on Saturday before heading to Williamstown, Mass. to take on rival Williams College on Sunday. The weekend got off to a bad start, as the Middlebury Panthers scored three times in a 2:22 span to grab an early lead. Middlebury never looked back, piling on four more scores before Amherst got on the board. When it was all over, the fourth-ranked Panthers had amassed eight goals to the Jeffs' one. Forward Elissa Landes '04 scored the only Amherst goal, with linemate Williams picking up the assist.
The Jeffs fought hard the next day at Williams, but the result was similar. The Ephs grabbed the early lead on a goal by Molly Wasserman, her eleventh of the year, and added two more to hold a 3-0 lead just 8:29 into the game. But as has been their habit this season, the Jeffs came right back at their opponents. Defender Alicia Pitchard '05 tallied her first goal of the year at 9:02 of the first period, and Williams scored her fifth of the campaign at 17:21 of the opening frame to make it a one-goal game. But the Williams squad proved to be too strong, adding another strike late in the second period before icing the game with two goals in the third.
Despite the 1-8-2 conference record, Amherst certainly has a good shot at making the postseason. With four points, the Jeffs are tied with the Connecticut College Camels for seventh place overall. To move into the postseason, Amherst would have to come out ahead of Connecticut and stay ahead of cellar-dweller Wesleyan. Fortunately, the Jeffs have a game remaining against the Cardinals, whom they could likely knock out of playoff contention with a win. Amherst also has a game remaining against Trinity, the team in sixth place with five points. A win against the Bantams could prove huge for the Jeffs' playoff hopes.
This will be the crucial weekend in the season. Amherst visits Trinity on Friday and Wesleyan on Saturday. A couple of road wins could vault the Jeffs into the postseason, while losses could doom the team's playoff hopes.
"If we skate [this weekend] with the intensity that we skated with at Williams on Sunday," said Williams, "we will win-no doubt."