The Jeffs started the season with an astonishing 16 first-years and two sophomore transfers on roster after losing a group of outstanding players to graduation. The class of 2004 made it to four Final Fours and won a National Championship in their collegiate careers, so the young Jeffs knew going into the Florida trip that they had large shoes to fill. Despite Amherst's higher preseason ranking in the Hamilton matchup, the Jeffs knew that the up-and-coming Continentals, who were coming off their most successful season in school history, could pose a threat.
It seemed that any fear of first-game jitters was unfounded as the Jeffs jumped out to an early lead thanks to a goal from midfielder Caitie Parker '06 a meager 34 seconds after the opening draw. Junior attacker Scotty Hanley assisted on the score. The Continentals countered quickly, however, scoring two goals before the 20-minute mark to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Lauren Dudley brought the Jeffs even with a free-position goal, but the Continentals responded once again, this time doing considerable damage, scoring four unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead with less than 14 minutes left in regulation. "[Head] Coach [Chris] Paradis told us to calm down, stop worrying about the score and start focusing on the process of making smart offensive plays," said senior co-captain netminder Liv D'Ambrosio. "She told us to believe in ourselves."
The young Jeffs took their coach's advice, and sophomore Alyssa Briody, who scored just five goals all of last season, sparked the Jeffs' comeback with a pair of consecutive goals. Hanley then scored her first goal of the year to cut the deficit to one. With just over seven minutes to go, Dudley knotted the score for the second time in the afternoon, tying the game at six all. With just over seven minutes to play, Parker scored her second goal of the game with what would end up being the game winner off a free-position opportunity. The Jeffs' staunch defense, anchored by D'Ambrosio who had seven saves in the game, managed to hold on for the win.
Against St. Lawrence, the Jeffs led 11-2 before the game was cancelled due to rain. As a result, the statistics from that game will not be official.
If Amherst wants to continue its success, the Jeffs will need to keep getting significant contributions from players like Parker, the lone returning starter from last season's midfield, as well as players like Dudley and Briody, who are clearly very talented but didn't see a lot of playing time last year due to the team's incredible depth. The midfield is especially inexperienced, with sophomores Dudley, Liz Wise, Rachel Lewis and Caroline Shannon competing for the remaining midfield spots next to Parker.
Possibly due to lack of experience, the team has had some difficulty with ball movement early in the season. "Right now, I think our greatest weakness is an inability to maintain patience with the ball," said D'Ambrosio. "We sometimes throw the ball to what appears to be the first open player instead of taking a moment, staying calm, staying patient, and passing or feeding to a player who is in better position to get the ball."
However, as the team has had more time to practice and play together, they are starting to iron out the wrinkles. "The players who are playing more now were great players last year as well, they just didn't see as many minutes because our senior class was so strong," said D'Ambrosio. "Now it's just their time to step up, and that's exactly what they're doing. I'm so proud of everyone on this team for filling the enormous shoes that have been left behind."
Amherst hits the road again, though not to warmer climates, tomorrow afternoon for a nonconference tilt with Wheaton College. NESCAC competition opens up in Williamstown on April 2.