As the field hockey teams warmed up on Saturday morning, it was evident that both squads were focused and determined to win.
Fans from both sides sat in the grass, excitedly awaiting the well-matched game that was about to begin.
Dominating the first half, the Jeffs proved that they had come ready to play. Bates struggled to keep up as Amherst set a very fast pace to start the game. Passes were on target and Amherst continued to gain momentum throughout the half. First-year forward Haley Douds rallied the team with the first goal 15 minutes into the half, off an assist by junior forward Christa Porcaro. "It was a really good feeling getting that first goal, and everyone was really excited," said Douds.
It was that excitement which Douds talked about that inspired the Jeffs as they continued to dominate the game, following up with another goal by Douds off a penalty corner only five minutes later. The half ended with Amherst leading 2-0.
Going into the second half, both teams knew that a two-point lead was not enough for Amherst to secure the win. The Jeffs were determined to hold the lead, and Bates was working hard to make a comeback. The game was far from over, and both teams knew it. What they did not know was just how much longer it would last.
Tired from a well-played first half, Amherst lost some of that fire that allowed them to dominate the opening frame. Looking to score some security points, the Jeffs had many shots on goal but couldn't break the Bobcats' defense.
Amherst struggled to keep up with the pace of the second half as the Bobcats used their substitutions wisely and kept the game moving very quickly. This greatly affected the plays ahead. Taking control, the Bobcats scored 15 minutes into the second half. With the momentum of the game in their favor, Bates took an offensive attitude.
Despite the commendable effort made by the battered Jeff defense, with a mere five minutes left in the game, Bates tied the score. As time ran out, the score remained 2-2, forcing overtime. "We were so exhausted after getting started 30 minutes late [due to a tardy official] and playing in the heat, we were really upset to have to go into overtime," said Douds.
Drained by the well fought first 70 minutes of what seemed to be a never-ending game, the two teams entered into their first 15 minute overtime. The game got more physical as both teams began to tire. Despite their greatest efforts and much to their dismay, neither team was able to put in a goal to end the game.
The excitement grew as the second overtime began. After a long hard fight from both sides, the Bobcats managed to score a goal near the middle of the second 15 minute, sudden-death overtime, ending the game with a final score of 3-2.
This was the first game back from an injury for senior co-captain midfielder Rachel Carr-Harris, who is ready to look to the future. "We proved in the first half that we have a lot of skill and talent this year, so we are excited for our next game," said Carr-Harris. "Unfortunately, we had a rough second half, but we have decided not to ever let that happen again."
Saturday's game was certainly a heartbreaker, but the Jeffs are still very confident about the season ahead. "I believe that the rest of the season will be very successful for us," Carr-Harris said. With so much young talent, and after establishing themselves as a solid team in the first half of the game on Saturday, Carr-Harris' prediction is certainly a valid one.
Although Amherst is currently near the bottom of the conference standings, there are plenty of opportunities to improve the rankings as the Jeffs have only played two conference games so far this season. The next of those opportunities is Saturday against Tufts University.
NESCAC Notes
There were three shutouts last Saturday as Wesleyan University, Bowdoin and Williams Colleges all left their opponents scoreless. Currently ranked at the top of the conference along with Williams and Bates, Middlebury College defeated Tufts 3-1 last weekend. After only two weeks of conference play, the standings are still very loosely set with Amherst tied for eigth in the conference with Colby and Connecticut Colleges.