Although the Jeffs haven't hit their stride yet this season, there are a number of positive aspects of their play. The Jeffs have played seven games against top-20 competition, according to the latest USCHO.com poll, with three games remaining against top-15 opponents (Bowdoin, Colby and Middlebury Colleges).
This schedule, which is among the most difficult in the country, has hampered the progress of the young Jeffs squad, but it has improved their level of play.
"With all of the troubles we have gone through in the season thus far, when we look back at how well we played and competed against some of the best teams in the country, it actually gives us more confidence," said Erik DiNardo '03. "We all know that we can beat anyone when we play our best game."
Additionally, the Jeffs have seen improved production from a number of underclassmen over the winter break. Along with Beau Kretzman '05, who led the team in scoring last year and is on pace to do so again, Scott Aldrich '05 and Steve Nelson '06 have emerged as scoring threats.
Aldrich is currently second on the squad in scoring with 15 points, while Nelson is third with 14.
The Jeffs played two games before departing for break, taking on Norwich University-the undefeated number one team in the nation-and St. Michael's College. Against Norwich the Jeffs jumped to an early 2-0 lead, but the Cadets finished the game off with four unanswered goals, taking a 7-4 victory out of Orr Rink. Kretzman tallied a hat trick in the defeat to lead the Jeffs attack.
The following day the Jeffs dismantled St. Michael's with their most impressive showing of the year, taking an 8-0 win. Brett Farson '03 led the way with a hat trick of his own, while Justin Jagher '03 turned away 27 shots to earn the shutout.
After a 24-day layoff the Jeffs embarked on their Interterm schedule with a brutal week of play and travel. In five days, the Jeffs endured over 20 hours of travel time and three nationally-ranked opponents, with all three games occurring on the road in hostile environments.
The first test came against Plattsburgh College on New Year's Eve. The Jeffs held their own against the Cardinals for most of the first period, but two late goals put the visitors down, going into the first intermission. The Jeffs were not able to generate much of an offense, with only 21 shots in the game, and they fell 5-0. Jaffrie Perotti '03 turned away 41 shots in net for the Jeffs.
The Jeffs next traveled to Rochester, N.Y. to take on the Rochester Institute of Technology. The Jeffs took the early lead when Josh Hoffman '04 found the back of the net, but the Tigers were able to even the score heading into the break. With two goals in each of the remaining periods the Tigers sealed the victory.
The next night the Jeffs faced Elmira College, and fell 5-3 in a horribly-officiated game. The Jeffs and Soaring Eagles combined for 25 penalties as the officials lost control of the game, and the Jeffs were twice victimized by poor calls that resulted in goals for the home team.
After falling behind 3-0, the Jeffs tallied three goals to tie the game, but the Eagles sealed the victory with a power play goal and an empty-netter.
The Jeffs returned to conference play the following weekend with a pair of games against NESCAC foes Wesleyan University and Trinity College. In the first game of the weekend, against the Cardinals, the Jeffs took home a hard-fought win, 7-4. The Jeffs allowed two goals early in the game, one on a power play and one shorthanded but then rattled off seven unanswered goals.
The win was costly however, as the Jeffs continued to be plagued by injuries. Kretzman returned to the ice for his first game in over a month against the Cardinals, but Perrotti injured his right knee in a collision at the net and will miss the rest of the season.
"We can't really worry about the injuries, because there isn't anything that we can do about them," said DiNardo. "We just have to go out and dictate the style of hockey that we want to play."
The next day the Jeffs pulled out their second tie with Trinity in as many games this season, 3-3. Again, the Jeffs spotted their opponents a pair of goals early, but they came back with a furious late rally to tie the game. Aldrich scored with just two seconds remaining after Amherst pulled their goalie in order to have an extra skater on the ice, and Jagher made a tremendous sprawling save in overtime to keep the score knotted.
After five consecutive road games, the Jeffs returned home to face Hamilton College, but they were unable to carry their momentum from the weekend into the game as they fell 8-2. The Continentals tallied a lone goal in the first period, but they exploded in the second for five more goals, and the Jeffs were never able to catch up.
The Jeffs' hard times continued as they made their fourth road trip of the month, this time to Salem State College and the University of Southern Maine (USM). Against Salem the Jeffs registered four goals, but for the second time in the season an opponent hit double figures as the Jeffs surrendered 10 goals.
The next afternoon the Jeffs came out flat and fell behind 3-0 to USM, but in just over three minutes in the third period Amherst potted a trio of goals. After surrendering a fourth goal, the Jeffs appeared to tie the game again when Chris Norqual '04 knocked in a slap shot from the point, but it was waved off by the referee. After allowing an empty-net goal, the Jeffs fell 5-3.
In their first homestand of the new year, the Jeffs split a series with Skidmore College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Although the Jeffs jumped to an early two-goal lead against Skidmore, they were unable to hold on as they surrendered six straight goals, losing by a final score of 7-3.
The team was able to stop their four-game losing streak with a thrilling 5-4 win over Massachusetts College. Again, the Jeffs fell behind in the opening period, 2-0, but this time they were able to take the lead by the middle of the third period. But, with another pair of Trailblazer goals, it appeared that the Jeffs' slide would continue, until the final two minutes. Nelson netted his second goal of the game with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, and nine seconds later he completed the hat trick to propel the Jeffs to victory.
This weekend the Jeffs look to add to their winning streak with a pair of road games, against New England and St. Anselm's Colleges. After these two games the Jeffs will return to NESCAC play with a six-game stretch to finish the season.