The women's lacrosse team began the season as any team does: discovering how to play as a unit. NESCAC rules prevent spring teams from practicing before Feb. 15, and it takes time for a team-especially a team with very high standards-to get up to speed. But the Jeffs wasted no time testing their early-season ability, as they traveled to Colorado Springs, Co., for Spring Break games against perennial national contenders Salisbury University and Colorado College. The nomadic Jeffs closed out the week with a NESCAC game at Bates College. Amherst went 2-1 on the trip, finishing with a 3-1 record and a much better understanding of how to play as a team.

"Playing in practices and scrimmages is one thing, but playing in an actual game is another," said quad-captain midfielder Lauren Dudley '07. "Each player gets tested in a totally different fashion. "

While the Jeffs' game against Salisbury was just their second of the season, the Sea Gulls already had seven games under their belts. "Our game against Salisbury was in the middle of their season whereas it was only our second real game," explained Dudley. "As a result, they knew each other on the field better than we did, and thus, they were able to connect with one another successfully across the field."

Nevertheless, Amherst got on the scoreboard first with an unassisted tally by quad-captain attacker Alyssa Briody '07. Salisbury responded with four straight goals, but Dudley cut Amherst's deficit to two by converting a feed from sophomore midfielder Mary Noonan. With less than a minute and a half remaining in the first half, the Sea Gulls scored again to stretch their lead to 5-2. The Sea Gulls pulled away in the second half. Briody scored twice more in final frame, but Salisbury put up six goals to take the game, 11-4.

Despite the loss, the Jeffs took some positives from the game. "We played really hard," said junior goalie Linda McEvoy, who had 10 saves. "I know we learned a ton from that game and are really glad for the experience."

Amherst used that experience two days later against Colorado. "Coming into our game against Colorado, we knew that we had to be ready for a very physical game," said Dudley. "We knew that we still had to get used to playing with one another. Coming together as a team on the field during an actual game is very difficult, but I think we were able to do this at the beginning of the Colorado game."

The scoring was back and forth at the beginning. The Tigers scored first, followed by a tally from attacker Amy Craig '09. Colorado responded, but Amherst answered back with a goal by attacker Maddie Hoeg '08. Then Hoeg scored again, putting Amherst up for good and starting a string of six straight Amherst goals. "We got into a great attacking rhythm," said McEvoy. "I think our attackers started to feel a lot more confident, because we had some beautiful feeds and finishes that allowed our whole team to feel confident."

The second half started with the Jeffs holding a commanding 7-2 lead, but the Tigers saved their roar for the end of the game. Craig brought Amherst's lead to 9-3 with a free-position tally, but Colorado then scored twice before Craig netted her fifth goal of the game. Though Amherst had a five-goal lead, Craig's final tally proved to be the game-winner, as Colorado closed out the game with four unanswered goals, cutting the final score to 10-9.

After returning to the East Coast, the Jeffs traveled to Lewiston, Me., for their second NESCAC contest of the season. Noonan scored twice to open the game, but the Bobcates battled back to take a 3-2 lead. Then Briody and Dudley each scored to put Amherst back on top. Bates scored again to tie the game at 4-4, but senior attacker Dana Kuper tallied an unassisted goal with 13 seconds left in the half to give Amherst a lead it wouldn't relinquish, as the Jeffs held on for the 10-7 win.

The Jeffs are now 2-0 in NESCAC play. Most importantly, four games into the season it appears that Amherst has hit its stride. "For the past two years, we have played very close games with Bates," explained Dudley. "Thus, when we started to pull away from Bates in the second half, it felt amazing."

"It felt more like the Amherst lacrosse team I remember from last season," added McEvoy about the Bates game. "We are improving every game and will continue to work hard and get better!"

The Jeffs continue on the road tomorrow night at Springfield for a 7:00 game, and will head to Connecticut College on Saturday for a 12:00 NESCAC match-up.

NESCAC Notes

Colby College continues to struggle in NESCAC play after finishing third in the conference last year. The White Mules lost their second NESCAC game in as many tries, this time to Williams College. Six-time defending NESCAC Champion Middlebury College opened its season with an 11-5 win over Bowdoin College. Bowdoin fell to Middlebury in the conference final last year.