Tuesday's non-conference game at Springfield College ended in a solid 20-9 victory for the Jeffs. Senior tri-captain goaltender Brooke Diamond shared time with sophomore Olivia D'Ambrosio in the goal to come up with a combined six saves.
Early on, the Amherst took a 4-1 lead before Springfield countered the Jeff attack to come within one goal; however, Amherst responded with fury to end the first half with a 10-5 lead. Midfielder Mary Kate Allen '03 led the scoring with a game-high four goals. Attacker Abby Ouimet '03 also dominated the offense with three goals and three assists, while senior attacker tri-captain Erin Beaumont and junior midfielders Allison Aldrich and Jackie Sargent scored three goals apiece. Midfielder Liz Martin '04 recorded an impressive four assists.
Other contributors to the Jeffs' scoring included attacker Kelly Leisman '04, midfielder Cate Smith '05, attacker Scotty Hanley '06 and defender Sarah Coleman '06, each of whom registered one goal in the victory.
With momentum on their side after an overwhelming victory, Amherst returned home to Hitchcock Field on Saturday to face 17th-ranked Bowdoin College. The Lord Jeffs took an early lead in the game, getting a goal apiece from Beaumont, Allen and Martin to put the score at 3-1.
By the beginning of the second half, the Jeffs had produced an 8-3 lead before the Polar Bears responded to cut their deficit to 11-8. However, the Jeffs closed the game out with five of the game's final eight goals to take a 16-11 victory for their sixth NESCAC win of the season.
Ouimet led the offense with three goals and three assists, while Aldrich netted four goals; Allen and Beaumont registered three each. Others to make the score sheet include Martin, with two goals and an assist. Sargent added a goal and attacker Laura Schifter '03 and midfielder Margaret Chute '06 each chipped in with one assist.
This game also marked the last regular season home game for seniors Allen, Beaumont, Diamond, tri-captain defender Annie Jamieson, defender Molly O'Connor, Ouimet, Schifter and defender BriAnne Watkins. The Class of 2003 has compiled an impressive 23-2 record on Hitchcock Field over the past four years.
Martin, Ouimet, Allen and Aldrich lead the team in scoring with 38, 29, 28 and 24 goals, respectively, in this season's eleven games. Ouimet earned NESCAC player of the week honors for her six-goal, six-assist performance on the week.
"Our attack works very well together," said Hanley. "Everyone can feed and everyone can finish. Our attack is so strong that we never have to rely on any one or two players to have a good day."
The women's lacrosse team, currently ranked third in the NESCAC, has two regular season games remaining, both against NESCAC opponents. Today, Amherst faces Tufts University, a team which currently stands eighth in the NESCAC. On Saturday, the Jeffs will end their regular season play with a match-up against archrival Williams College, currently tied with Middlebury College for the top spot in the NESCAC standings. The Ephs have a flawless record of 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference, and it promises to be a tough game for the Jeffs.