The women's ice hockey team won its first playoff game in school history with a 3-2 overtime victory over archrival Williams College in Saturday's quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament. Having beaten Williams in overtime two weeks ago, Amherst earned the third seed and the right to host a quarterfinal game. Determined to extend their spectacular season, the Jeffs approached the playoffs in the same way that they prepared for their other games this season, despite the fact that this game clearly meant more.
"We had our normal pre-game practice Friday and our normal pre-game meal on Saturday," said first-year goalie Krystyn Elek. "We didn't want to switch anything up, what we have been doing all year has obviously been working out well for us." Though they kept to their routine, some Jeffs admitted to having a few extra butterflies in their stomachs.
"I think the team was more anxious than nervous," said Elek. "As for me, I was absolutely terrified; I don't think I have ever been that nervous before a game."
First-year forward Kate Dennett agreed: "Everyone was pretty nervous for the game, but the good kind of anxious nervous where you are ready to go out and get the job done. And once you have that first shift on the ice, all of the nerves are usually gone."
If the nerves were there, they weren't showing. From the first time the puck dropped, both teams played intense hockey. It was Amherst who got on the board first, just over halfway into the first period. With an Eph in the penalty box for tripping, sophomore forward Anna MacLean made Williams pay just 14 seconds into the power play. Dennett and first-year defenseman Kirsten Dier provided the assists. "Having our team score the first goal lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders at the time," said Elek. "I was freaking out though, when it happened. I think I jumped like two feet off the ice."
Williams picked up the intensity in the second period. The Ephs scored twice in less than three minutes to take the lead. They also out shot Amherst 15-7 in the frame, but Elek came up with some huge game-saving stops. Amherst headed to the locker room down by one and with its season on the line. Yet the Jeffs were determined to win.
"We knew that it was now or never. If we didn't score our season would be over, and no one wanted that to happen," said tri-captain forward Kirsten Forsberg. "There was really nothing to say except to go out there, play like we normally do, and start putting pucks in the net. We also had some musical inspiration from a little song called 'Let the Bodies Hit the Floor.'"
That inspiration must have worked because, amazingly, the intensity of the game was ratcheted up another notch for the final period of regulation. The tension between the archrivals was more than apparent as the game became more physical than is usually seen in women's ice hockey. "In playoff games in general, referees tend not to call as many penalties, so people get away with some things that normally would have been called," explained Forsberg. "Our games with Williams have always been physical though, and when you put that into a playoff situation you are definitely going to get a physical game. Neither team wants [its] season to end, and certainly not at the hands of an archrival."
Amherst converted that determination into a game-tying goal at 10:26 into the third period. Sophomore forward Lindsey Harrington scored her 15th goal of the season off assists from forwards Tarasai Karega '09 and Elizabeth Ditmore '08. With the game knotted at two each, the both teams fought for an advantage, but neither was able to find the back of the net.
The Jeffs returned to the ice for an overtime session for the fifth time this season, and the third time in the last five games. Amherst has not lost in an extra period this season, and Saturday's game was no exception. The Jeffs were dominant, out-shooting the Ephs 8-1 in less than five minutes. It was all over at 4:48. With Karega providing the assist, Dennett gave Amherst the win.
"I don't really remember how I scored in [overtime]," Dennett said. "I just remember watching the puck cross the goal line and then being bombarded by my teammates."
Senior Alena Harrison put the Jeffs elation well: "Winning was absolutely amazing! It was the first time in Amherst history that we have ever advanced beyond the first round of the NESCACs and to do it at home against Williams ... It just doesn't get any better than that."
NESCAC NOTES
As the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament, Middlebury College had a bye this weekend. Fourth-seeded Hamilton College beat number five Colby College, and as the lowest remaining seed, the Continentals will play Middlebury in the first semifinal round on Saturday. The second seed, Bowdoin College, skated to a 3-1 victory over seventh-seeded Trinity College, and will face off against Amherst in the other semifinal game. All games will be played at Middlebury, with the final taking place at 1:00 on Sunday.