Amherst's 2-1 victory over Trinity College was not only its first victory of the season, but also a key one en route to a favorable NESCAC tournament seed. Roger Williams University, Amherst's second opponent this weekend, was downed 3-0 in a non-conference clash. Both victories, impressive as they were, were greater in magnitude when the absence of injured Amherst senior co-captain and last year's leading goal scorer Mike Wohl is taken into account. But the squad looked anything but handicapped as they proceeded to win back-to-back games in impressive fashion.
In fact, the team played exceptionally well in Wohl's absence, dominating play throughout both matches. During the opening game, Amherst ruled the field in every facet of the game. According to Jonathan Pryor '08, the comfort level of the team and their impressive play throughout was understated by the score. "In both games, we had more possession time and more chances at goal," he said. "We actually could have won by wider margins, if we finished more of our chances. However, I think it is tough to score many goals on the first weekend of the season."
The Trinity College road win saw Amherst outshoot their opponent 15 to nine and hold a corner kick advantage of 11 to six. Ryan O'Donnell '08 struck first for the Jeffs, scoring an unassisted goal in the eighth minute of the opening match. In the 52nd minute Nicholas Lynch '09 assisted Jacob Duker '09 on a corner kick. The Amherst net was unblemished until the 64th minute, when Charlie Fuentes was able to convert one of the Trinity College opportunities. Trinity would not threaten the Jeffs again and the victory was secured by a strong Amherst defense led by John Kneeland '08, Rory O'Connor '09 and Grayson Holland '09, a unit that asserted itself comfortably.
The second game of the weekend showed Amherst in even more dominant form. The Jeffs outclassed Roger Williams in every statistical category. Amherst outshot the Hawks 20 to five, and posted a corner kick advantage of 10 to one. Duker became the first multi-goal scorer for the Jeffs this year when he netted his second score of the weekend just three minutes into the game. Taylor Downs '08 (listed as a defender) was assisted by one of Amherst's frequent playmakers, Lynch. He found the net on a header in the 59th minute from a corner kick by the sophomore. Senior co-captain Rob Madden put an exclamation point on the victory in the 82nd minute, breaking away on the lower left corner after an assist from Duker.
Duker, whose offensive output this year in two games has already surpassed his accomplishments throughout his entire first-year campaign, provided a significant boost for Amherst. Meanwhile, newly minted starters Willy Warren '08 and Matt Lewis '10 both turned in effective performances in their first two major appearances this year.
The Jeffs hope that boost will continue as they face the rest of the NESCAC teams. On Saturday, Bates College will visit Hitchcock Field as Amherst looks to maintain their undefeated mark. The Jeffs will encounter a likely fiercer foe in the Bobcats whose season was ended by Amherst in the NESCAC Tournament last year in wild fashion.
For those who were there to witness the mayhem that ensued, a hotly contested penalty kick was awarded to the Jeffs in the final seconds of the game versus the Bobcats. Joe Gannon '06 converted the kick, which sent the Jeffs to the next round of the NESCAC playoffs and provoked a crazed reaction by the Bobcat faithful in protest of the questionable penalty. Hopefully, the upcoming rematch will be equally as exciting.
The Jeffs will certainly come into Saturday's game with confidence, having soundly defeated both teams over the weekend. The road win against the Bantams is an especially impressive one, given the tough road games that Amherst will be sure to face this season.
"The road win at Trinity was important because road NESCAC wins are always extremely tough to get," said Wohl. "We will prepare mentally and physically for Bates who will certainly be gunning for us after we ended their season last year in double overtime with 2.5 seconds left on a penalty kick."
So far this season, the Jeffs have been successful in defeating teams that are lower-ranked-something that they struggled with last year. But Saturday's game will be their first true test and will be an important step for the men's team in its hopes for NESCAC glory.
But with Wohl returning, a confident lineup, and two wins in the bag, there is no reason why Amherst should not feel confident about its upcoming NESCAC clashes.
NESCAC Notes
Nationally ranked opponents Bowdoin and Middelbury Colleges are tied with Amherst for first in the NESCAC. Williams College, the highest-ranked opponent Amherst will likely face this season, has yet to play. Wesleyan University also has had no matches thus far.