The big story on Thursday was the offense. After scoring only 14 goals in their previous two games combined, the Amherst attackers exploded for 19 tallies in a 19-8 victory over the Camels. Leading the way was junior attacker Alyssa Briody with five points on four goals and an assist. Attackers tri-captain Scotty Hanley '06, Dana Kuper '07, Maddie Hoeg '08, Amy Craig '09 and midfielders Lauren Dudley '07 and Mary Noonan '09 each added a pair of goals, with Kuper and Noonan notching one and two assists, respectively. Junior midfielders Rachel Lewis, Liz Wise and Caroline Shannon rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece.
Noonan got the Jeffs onto the scoreboard 16 seconds into the game, but Conn. answered with a free position tally, and then tied the score at two after Hoeg had given the Jeffs a 2-1 lead. But that was as close as the Camels got. The Jeffs scored five goals in a row to put the game out of reach, and had a commanding 8-3 lead at the break. Amherst put together scoring streaks of three, three and five goals in the second half, and Kuper scored with a second remaining to create an 11-goal differential.
The offensive outburst was a huge step as the team shook off an offensive slump. "Our attack gained a lot of confidence during the Conn. game," said Lewis. "They were more dynamic than I have ever seen them. [Head Coach] Chris [Paradis] coached us on shooting all week after we had a few low-scoring games and it definitely worked; in fact, we had 10 different people score goals on Thursday."
While the offense was getting back on track, the defense continued to set the tone of the game. The ball rarely made it into Amherst's defensive zone, and with such huge lead, sophomore goalies Linda McEvoy and Kathleen Boucher didn't even need to make their combined three saves to preserve the win.
Amherst extended its scoring spree in a game against its archrival Williams, and a couple of questionable calls by the officials made the 12-6 win seem closer than it really was.
Hoeg scored less than a minute into each of the halves, and Kuper and Craig came off the bench to add two goals each as well. Noonan had a goal and two assists, and Briody also had a multiple-point game with a goal and an assist. Midfielder Caitie Parker '06, defender Margaret Chute '06, co-captain attacker Scotty Hanley '06 and Dudley each added goals.
Again, the defense was stifling. Junior defender Emery Sweeney picked up a career- and game-high six ground balls for the Jeff defense that is ranked seventh in the country. McEvoy collected 10 saves and two ground balls in an outstanding performance. She has been solid in goal this season-her first as a starter-posting the nation's seventh-best goals against average.
The routing of the Ephs was monumental for the Jeffs, who secured their sixth-straight Little Three crown. "It is always great to beat Williams, and it is particularly wonderful to have beaten them so decisively," said Dudley. "Defeating a top-10 team proves to us that we are a talented team that has the potential to go all the way."
If the Jeffs continue their high-scoring and smothering defensive play, they will certainly be hard to beat. "This Saturday's game signified a turning point in our season. We have been working extremely hard all season long, and on Saturday, we were able to use everything that we have learned, and we connected as a team," said Dudley. "I think that our team has turned the page to a 'new chapter' of play, and I am excited to see how the rest of our season goes."
The competition heats up this week as the Jeffs host Wheaton College on Wednesday. They will travel to Maine for a two-game stint with contests at Colby and Bates Colleges on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
NESCAC Notes
Tufts University's upset win over seventh-ranked Bowdoin College last week is starting to look more and more like a fluke. As expected, the Jumbos fell to reigning NESCAC Champion Middlebury College, and only beat Conn. 17-12. The Jeffs have not played the Panthers yet, but handled the Camels 19-8 on Thursday. While Middlebury is still undefeated in conference play, Tufts' loss leaves Amherst and Colby as the only two teams with one conference loss, and points to a pivotal game in Waterville, Me. on Saturday.