Amherst's top billing certainly has merit. The Jeffs are perennial national contenders, and the 2006 season was no exception. Bolstered by an eight-game win streak in the middle of the season, the Jeffs earned the second seed in the NESCAC Tournament, received an at-large bid for a spot in the NCAA bracket and advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of the Div. III Championships. Amherst's highest national ranking last season was fifth.
While the top ranking this year is certainly an honor, the Jeffs enter the season more focused on what their rank will be at the end of the season, not before. "It is nice to be recognized as a top competitor in the polls," said junior attacker Maddie Hoeg. "However, preseason rankings do not win games. We must continue to work hard in practice and establish our dominant presence in every game we play."
A few changes to the schedule have the Jeffs working hard early in the season. This year, Amherst's season-opener will take place before Spring Break, with a NESCAC match-up against Wesleyan University at 2:00 on Sunday at UMass. Additionally, the Jeffs will not be traveling to a warm location during the week of no classes. Instead, they will fly out to Colorado to take on New Jersey's Salisbury University and Colorado College, with both games being held on Colorado's turf.
These early games will be a good test for the Jeffs, as Amherst disposed of Wesleyan in the first round of the NES-CAC Tournament last year. The big challenges, however, will be Salisbury and Colorado, since both teams made deep runs in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. "I think it's a very positive thing that we'll be playing both Salisbury and Colorado over Spring Break," said quad-captain attacker Alyssa Briody '07. "In past seasons our hardest games have come at the end [of the season], but I think knowing the talent that we'll eventually be going up against [in the NCAA Tournament] right from the very beginning will motivate us to work harder all season long."
Tacking on the tough games at the beginning of the season only adds to an already difficult schedule. The NESCAC has quickly become a hotbed of women's lacrosse talent, as six of the 10 conference teams are ranked in the nation's top 20. Right behind Amherst in the number two spot is Bowdoin College. The Polar Bears handed Amherst two of its four losses in 2006, with the second one coming in double overtime in the NESCAC semifinal game. Colby College is ranked third after coming off its best season in school history. The White Mules began the 2006 campaign with 11 straight wins before Amherst defeated them in overtime. Williams College claims the seventh rank, just ahead of six-time reigning NESCAC Champion and 2006 national semifinalist Middlebury College. Tufts University rounds out the NESCAC schools in the top 20, coming in at 17th. "All of the teams in NESCAC are so strong now," said Briody. "We are definitely going to have some battles on our hands, but I think we can win it all!"
A big reason for Amherst's top ranking is the Jeffs' personnel, which includes almost the entire starting lineup from last year. "We lost four key players who really did a lot for us over their four years," said Head Coach Chris Paradis. "It is tough to fill their shoes, but we do have seven strong seniors this season and lots of talent in the younger classes. The seniors are great players and leaders, and that obviously is key to a successful season."
The talented senior class is led by Briody, who earned a slew of awards following her junior season. The third-leading goal-scorer in the conference was named Second Team All-America, First Team ECAC New England All-Star, First Team IWLCA All-Region and First Team All-NESCAC. Emery Sweeney '07 was a major contributor on defense, earning Second Team All-NESCAC and First-Team IWLCA All-Region. Quad-captain midfielder Rachel Lewis '07 also got a nod for Second Team IWLCA All-Region. Rounding out the class of 2007 are midfielders Liz Wise and quad-captain Lauren Dudley, attacker Dana Kuper and quad-captain defender Maggie Roth. Linda McEvoy '08 was the goaltender with the best goals against average in the NESCAC last season. She will team up with Kathleen Boucher '08 to anchor one of the league's top defenses.
On the attacking end, Amherst's second, third and fourth leading scorers-behind Briody-were underclassmen last year. Attacker Amy Craig '09, midfielder Mary Noonan '09 and Hoeg will be relied upon to contribute offensively again. With seven seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and six first-years on the roster, the Jeffs appear to have a good mix of upperclassman leadership and young talent. "The majority of the starting line up is returning," said Roth. "Our [first-years] are really talented also, so we'll probably have a pretty deep bench this year."
Depth will be a theme of the season, as the top-ranked squad with a long bench will look to make it deep into the postseason.
NESCAC Notes
Middlebury has won every women's lacrosse NESCAC Championship. However, four of the Panthers' five all-NESCAC team selections from last year have graduated, including two-time NESCAC Player of the Year Elizabeth Renehan. Up until the 2006 season, Amherst and Middlebury were the only teams to face off in the NESCAC finals. Since Bowdoin crashed the championship game, and with Colby, Williams and Tufts coming off great seasons in 2006, every conference game will have huge playoff implications in 2007.