The team lost co-captains Katie Gravel '03 and Jeannie Limpert '03 to graduation and will also be without the services of junior Emily Foran, who placed fourth at the Div. III NCAA Championships in 2002.
According to Captain Meg Sullivan '05, the loss of Foran will be hard for the team. "She's been a big contributor throughout her three seasons here. Hopefully it won't damage the team chemistry too much."
Despite the gaps in their lineup, the Jeffs are determined to perform well. The rest of the team plans to step up and fill the holes left by departing players. Leading the way for Amherst will be senior Kathryn Kuchefski. In the fall season, Kuchefski won the final two tournaments of the year on Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 at the Wellesley and Central Conn. State Invitationals.
"This is her last semester and last season, and she has a good chance at qualifying individually for nationals," said Sullivan.
If the Jeffs want to win as a team, however, other players will also have to shoot low scores. Sullivan shot consistently in the high-80s in the fall and occasionally even scored in the mid-80s. If she can shoot 84 or 85 consistently, Amherst will have a better chance at placing higher.
During the fall season, first-year Sarah Harper played extremely well and earned the team's third position with scores in the high 80s. Kasarin Chakkaphak '04, Sarah Godwin '05, Melissa Sidman '06 and Lauren White '07 will also contribute.
The spring season is composed of four tournaments. "We usually have a legitimate shot to win Mass. States and Northeasterns," said Sullivan. "Those are important because our rivals are in [them], Mount Holyoke and Wellesley."
Kay Cowperthwait will serve as head coach of the team this season. Last season, the Jeffs qualified for the NCAA Div. III Championships, but the team decided not to attend as the tournament conflicted with final exams. This year, the schedule is once again set for the tournament to take place during finals week.
Amherst opens its season over spring break on March 15 at the Paradise Valley Community College Invitational in Cave Creek, Ariz.