This weekend, the women's hockey team lost to two of the nation's top teams, diminishing their chances of surging ahead in the playoff race. The team's hopes of hosting a playoff game succumbed to the harsh realities of hockey in the NESCAC, a conference that places three teams in the national top-10 rankings. Amherst fell at Williams College, 7-2 Friday night before losing to Middlebury College, 7-0 on Saturday. The pair of losses renders the final three games on the conference schedule even more crucial to the playoff race.

Williams' barrage against the Amherst cage began early in the game. Taya Latham opened the scoring for the Ephs with a goal in less than two minutes, and Williams extended its first period lead to 4-0 before Amherst could get on the board. Forward Alison White '04 scored the Jeffs' first goal of the game and her eighth goal of the season before the end of the opening period. She was aided with assists from forwards Alena Harrison '07 and Rachel Simon '07.

Williams scored its fifth goal halfway into the second period before Amherst forward Renee Sisti '06 cut the Eph lead to 5-2 with a goal of her own. Forward Kirsten Forsberg '07 got the primary assist, while Simon got the secondary, her second point of the night. But Sisti took a tripping penalty two minutes later, and Williams seized the opportunity to score on the ensuing power play. Williams occupies third place in the NESCAC standings and ninth place in the nation. The win put even more distance between the Ephs and the Wesleyan Cardinals, who occupy fourth place in the conference.

Head Coach Jim Plumer was happy with the way his team played against the Ephs, but said the team needs to cut down on lapses. "We're still young," he said, "and sometimes when we make mistakes they end up in the back of the net."

The development of Saturday's game at Middlebury was different, but the Jeffs came out with another loss. Middlebury, ranked fourth in the nation and second only to Bowdoin College in the NESCAC, could not solve Amherst goaltender Lindsay Grabowski '07 in the early going. After allowing a goal in the fifth minute, Grabowski stifled the potent Panther attack for the remainder of the period, turning aside 13 of the 14 Middlebury shots and keeping her team in the game. The Jeffs could mount little offense at the other end of the ice, however, registering just three shots in the first period.

Grabowski held off the Panthers for the first period, but she could not withstand the torrent of vulcanized rubber much longer, ceding five second period goals and another in the third. Middlebury finished the game with 38 shots on goal, while Amherst only had 10. The loss for Amherst was its third consecutive conference defeat; powerhouses Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury are to blame for the slide.

"Offensively, we're doing an excellent job, even against the good teams," said Plumer. "I think we need to be stronger in our defensive zone; that's the key. When we play 60 minutes of good hard hockey like we know how, we're competitive with everybody."

Despite the losses, the Jeffs were able to maintain their tie with Hamilton College for fifth place in the conference, as the Continentals dropped two decisions to the Bowdoin Polar Bears. Finishing fifth places Amherst securely in the playoffs; finishing fourth, however, means hosting a first-round game. However, Wesleyan University currently occupies the desired spot, and Amherst's losses place the Jeffs two games out of fourth.

For Amherst, the goal is to best Hamilton and perhaps overcome Wesleyan. However, the Jeffs will have to wait another week to get back into conference play. This weekend they play twice at Cortland State before returning home for a Wednesday night game against UMass-Boston. The Jeffs will resume NESCAC play next Friday at home against Trinity College.

Amherst also played a home-at-home with the College of the Holy Cross this week. The Jeffs beat the Crusaders last Wednesday at home 4-2 and lost last night on the road, 2-3.