"We just kept telling ourselves to continue with the way we've been playing," explained junior forward Elizabeth Ditmore, "and for the success it has brought us, we're in no mood to make any drastic changes."
The most drastic changes were not in Amherst's control. The Jeffs were without their seventh- and eighth-leading scorers: first-year forward Michelle McGann and senior tri-captain defenseman Tes Siarnacki. McGann dislocated her right shoulder in a collision and had to be helped off the ice during Amherst's NESCAC Championship triple-overtime win over Middlebury College last weekend. Siarnacki played in the title game, even though she had broken her wrist the previous day in a NESCAC semifinal win over Bowdoin College. Both McGann and Siarnacki were unable to play against RIT.
"Watching was difficult, to say the least, but it allowed me a different perspective," said Siarnacki. "Before Saturday, I didn't realize how good we were, because I was too involved in playing. But watching those girls skate-I was honored to get the chance to play a season with them. When we play our game, it's a beautiful thing to watch, and no one can skate with us."
"Our team has a lot of depth, so we were able to pick up the slack with two players that were injured," added senior forward Rachel Simon. "We never want to be missing players who are as talented as Michelle and Tes, but it really says a lot about our team that we have the depth of talent to compete at a high level with an incomplete roster. I feel comfortable having any combination of five Amherst girls out on the ice at any time."
The Jeffs certainly didn't miss a beat. Less than six minutes into the contest they were on the scoreboard. Ditmore scored for Amherst, with the assist going to first-year defenseman Alyssa Chwick. Chwick, however, claims she didn't assist on the goal. "Unfortunately the assist was given to me by mistake," she explained. "It was actually Rachel Simon who passed the puck to Ditmore."
But Simon found her way into the box score anyway, scoring a goal late in the second period, as sophomore forward Tarasai Karega provided the helper. The goals were the fourth of the season for both Ditmore and Simon. With the goal-scorers stepping up and Chwick's insistence on setting the record straight, Saturday's win was a complete and overall team effort.
RIT was able to find the back of the net early in the third period, but the Jeffs shut down the Tigers the rest of the way. Amherst generated 28 shots in the contest, while holding RIT to just 16. After being named USCHO.com Defensive Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks, first-year goaltender Krystyn Elek made 15 saves.
"It was sort of a relief to play Saturday's game because we were able to solidly beat them," said Ditmore. "No overtimes, thankfully."
Ditmore's relief stems from the fact that five of Amherst's last eight games have gone to extra sessions, including the longest game in NCAA history in the NESCAC final. Amherst is 7-0-1 in that span and has lost just once in the last 21 games. The previous loss came at the hands of top-ranked SUNY-Plattsburgh on Dec. 8. Now Amherst has a chance for revenge, as Plattsburgh-the top seed in the National Tournament-is the Jeffs' semifinal opponent.
But while playing in the Div. III Frozen Four against the top-ranked team sounds intimidating, it seems nothing can spook this Amherst squad. "Plattsburgh is definitely going to be a challenge for us, but I have faith that we can beat them," said Chwick. "We'll prepare for the game like we prepare for all our games, practicing hard, getting rest and staying healthy."
"We have played in so many high stakes games lately and, at this point, there is no pressure on us and no expectations," added tri-captain forward Alena Harrison '07. "We are the underdog so every game is an opportunity for us. We simply need to go out there, try our hardest and continue playing our game. That is exactly what we are planning to do against Plattsburgh."
The Jeffs' hard work all year has ensured that they will be playing ice hockey until that last possible day of the 2006-07 season, and they are going to soak it all up.
"I cannot think of a better way to go out," said tri-captain forward Kirsten Forsberg. "I mean, if my four years here have to come to an end, winning the program's first-ever NESCAC Championship and making our first appearance in the Final Four is a pretty great way to end it."
"We're going to enjoy it," added Simon. "The best thing we can do to prepare for the Final Four is to have fun, because everything we have achieved is a direct result of how much we've been enjoying the experience. We play best as a team when we are having a good time with it, and that attitude is what has gotten us here and what will dictate our success this weekend."