The game got off to a slow start, as neither team could pierce the scoring column in the first period. Play opened up somewhat in the second period when both teams began generating better scoring opportunities. Amherst finally broke through for the first score when defender Bethany Croy '06 tallied her first collegiate goal on a shot from the right point. The rookie took a pass from forward Ellie Roe '05 and fired a long wrister towards the net. Colby goalie Sarah Webster, with her view obscured by a mass of bodies in front, never saw the shot until it settled in the back of the net.
Late in the second period, forward Ali White '04 gave fans something more to cheer for with a highlight reel goal to extend the lead to two. White took the puck from her own blue line and started streaking up the right side. With defenders forcing her to the outside, White managed to turn the corner and shovel a point-blank shot through the legs of the Colby goalie.
In the third period, the Jeffs turned to Alexander to make the lead hold, and she responded with nine saves, many in acrobatic fashion, to preserve the lead and the win. As the buzzer sounded, the Jeffs stormed over the boards to congratulate their senior netminder on her first shutout of the season. She made 27 saves overall.
"Our win against Colby this past weekend-a team we had never beaten before-has set the tone for our final two games," said Alexander.
Following last week's games, the NESCAC playoff picture has largely taken shape. Eighth-place Trinity College has played its last NESCAC game and will finish the season with six points in conference play, placing them short of playoff contention. The seventh-place Jeffs have seven points and are pursued only by cellar-dwellar Connecticut College, with four points. Amherst has one game left, versus Hamilton College, while Conn. has a weekend twin bill with Wesleyan University.
Should the Conn. Camels fare well against a much-improved Wesleyan squad, they could conceivably overtake the Jeffs. However, there is little reason to believe that Conn., which is 1-11-2 in NESCAC play, will beat Wesleyan, 4-1-1 over their last six games. If the Jeffs beat Hamilton, they will all but guarantee themselves a place in the conference tournament.
The Colby game was not Amherst's only activity this past week. Last Wednesday the Jeffs hosted New England College and lost 1-0. On Friday night the visiting Bowdoin College Polar Bears came to town and departed with a 3-0 NESCAC win.
Amherst will play host this evening to non-conference College of the Holy Cross. Amherst plays its regular season finale Saturday against Hamilton.
Alexander is optimistic about the end of the season. "The results of this past weekend have raised our spirits and indicated a shift to a winning mindset which will help us end the season with three wins," she said.