For a team involved in a four-way sprint for the final two playoff spots, a bye week can prove disastrous. Through a scheduling quirk, the women's hockey team played no NESCAC games this weekend, while its three competitors each played twice.

Fortunately for the Lord Jeffs, Wesleyan University, Trinity College and Connecticut College went a combined 0-5-1 this weekend, and the playoff race remains tight as ever. The Jeffs are now, after dropping a non-conference game to Plattsburgh State University Saturday night, looking ahead to the three games remaining on their NESCAC schedule.

Amherst did manage to keep busy this week, however, with a tough game against Plattsburgh. It was the first home game for the Jeffs in three weeks, but Orr Rink was unable to alleviate the Jeffs' woes. Co-captain goaltender Heidi Alexander '03 was blitzed by 37 Cardinal shots, and the Amherst attack was stifled by a suffocating Plattsburgh forecheck as the Jeffs fell 10-2. Co-captain forward Danielle Williams '03 and forward Renee Sisti '06 scored goals for the Jeffs.

The stinging defeat on home ice, however, does nothing to hurt Amherst's playoff aspirations. They will now focus on the pair of NESCAC match-ups this weekend against Bowdoin and Colby Colleges.

The Bowdoin Polar Bears are a tough team to play. The last time the teams met, Bowdoin came away with a decisive 8-0 victory. With a 10-0-1 NESCAC mark, they trail conference front-runner Middlebury College by just three points in the standings. "Bowdoin will be aggressive and physical," said Amherst Head Coach Kay Cowperthwait.

The White Mules of Colby currently occupy fifth place in the conference standings at 6-4-1. In their last meeting, Amherst fell behind 3-0 but twice stormed back to cut the deficit to one. The Mules ultimately proved too strong for Amherst that day, winning 5-3, but the Jeffs gained a lot of confidence from the meeting. "We had success scoring against Colby last time," said Cowperthwait, "So [this Saturday] we will need to make sure that we generate a lot of shots on net."

But before the Jeffs can get at their conference opponents this weekend, they'll have to deal with New England College tonight at Orr Rink. "We're focusing on staying positive and upbeat going into these games," said Cowperthwait, "so that we can make the best of our opportunities."