Tri-captain defender Leslie Curren '05 scored her first goal of the season, which was Wednesday's eventual game-winner, against NESCAC foe Conn. The senior scored just over 13 minutes into the game on a blazing shot that bent just under the crossbar and eluded the outstretched arms of Camel goalie Kate Simmons. Curren's goal came off an assist from senior midfielder Adrienne Showler and gave the Lord Jeffs a 1-0 lead that they would not relinquish.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, sophomore Jenny Muller gave the Jeffs some breathing room. Muller scored by rocketing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, taking full advantage of a perfectly-placed cross from senior forward and team assist leader Tracy Montigny.
The Jeffs protected their two-point lead with a suffocating defense that allowed only four shots in the game, but the offense still managed to send 11 second-half shots toward the Camels' net.
When the whistle blew on Wednesday, the Jeffs went to the locker room with their undefeated NESCAC record intact and a decisive 2-0 victory over Conn. under their belts, while the visiting Camels dropped to 6-5 overall and 2-5 in league play. Sophomore goalie Piper Crowell again tended goal in dominant fashion, accumulating seven saves on her way to her ninth career shutout and the Jeffs' fifth shutout of the year.
The Jeffs had another easy victory awaiting them in Middletown, Conn., where they faced the Wesleyan University Cardinals on Saturday.
Wesleyan came into the match with a 3-10 record and an even poorer 1-7 NESCAC mark. Ready to jump on the Cardinals early, the Jeffs came out and made their presence felt from the first whistle, moving the ball across the field with efficiency and fluidity.
The Jeffs did not take long to assert their dominance. In the 19th minute, Curren slipped her second goal of the week past Wesleyan's keeper. The goal came off a direct assist from Showler, who has been a catalyst for the Jeffs with four goals and four assists so far this season. The score remained 1-0 for the rest of a deadlocked first half.
The second period started off with a bang. All-American senior tri-captain forward Ashley Harmeling came out on fire and found the back of the Wesleyan net just four minutes into the half. Harmeling directed a feed from first-year midfielder Heather Nowak past the Wesleyan goalie, giving the Jeffs a 2-0 advantage that a weak Wesleyan offense would not surmount.
Amherst's stellar defense, led by the furious play of sophomore Liz Foley and junior Margaret Chute, completely stifled the Wesleyan attack and allowed Crowell to relax in goal. Crowell, whose stellar play had saved the Jeffs in several tense NESCAC matches earlier in the season, only had to make one save for Amherst's seventh shutout of the year.
With 18 minutes left in the game, senior forward Lee-Jay Henry got a chance to shine and seized the moment. Henry added an insurance goal to make it 3-0 by finding the net after collecting Curren's second assist of the season.
"Saturday's game was a really big win for us," said Showler. "Putting up a 3-0 victory really shows that we are gelling as a team, and should give us some good momentum heading into the playoffs next week. The outcome of the game was also a testament to the depth of our bench-no matter who we had out on the field, we continued to dominate play."
The Jeffs have already clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs, and can secure a first-round bye and hosting duties for the semifinal and final rounds with a win over archrival Williams College and a Middlebury College loss on Saturday.
"Things on the team are starting to click," said Henry. "Everything was in place before now and the goals are coming. These past few games are evidence of that."
Yesterday afternoon's 3-1 rout of Rhode Island College was testament to Henry's comments. Harmeling scored twice for the Jeffs and Showler had a goal and an assist to give Amherst another dominant victory.
Coming out of last week with three wins and a squad that is finally starting to come together to their liking, the Jeffs are confident and excited heading into the postseason. After winning NESCACs in 2003, they believe they have the depth, fire power and talent in goal to go deep into November play.