The NESCAC women’s lacrosse teams always manage to make it interesting this time of year. That’s what happens when six of the teams are ranked in the nation’s top-20.
Heading into the last game of the regular season, Middlebury College and Amherst had locked up the top two seeds, respectively, in the NESCAC Tournament. The remaining teams were still jockeying for positions, and the final round of games on Saturday had serious playoff implications for everyone except Middlebury and Amherst.
Colby College handed the Jeffs just their second loss of the season with a 12-7 decision. In an even bigger upset, Tufts University more than doubled up Middlebury, 15-7. The Panthers’ loss on Saturday was the first to a NESCAC opponent since Amherst beat Middlebury in the 2003 National Championship game. In addition, the loss broke Middlebury’s 76-game winning streak in regular season conference games, dating back to a loss to Amherst on April 8, 2000.
While Amherst’s loss to Colby was a bitter end to an otherwise very successful regular season, the Jeffs were able to take some lessons from the game. “I think the Colby game was just a reminder that we need to play our best every game and that especially means playing with mental sharpness and awareness,” said midfielder Mary Noonan ’09.
With the playoffs starting the next day, the Jeffs tried to put the loss behind them and focus on the sharp play that had earned them the second seed in the NESCAC Tournament. Their quarterfinal opponent was Wesleyan University, and the Jeffs ended the Cardinals’ season—for the third year in a row—with an 8-7 win.
“I think we were ultimately able to rebound because we knew if we lost it would be the end of our season,” said midfielder Kathleen Scheld ’10. “I think, also, that we felt the need to prove ourselves after our performance at Colby.”
The Jeffs certainly looked like they were out to prove something at the start of the game. First-year attacker Kelley Trapp scored on the first shot of the contest, and Amherst’s leading scorer, attacker Amy Craig ’09, added another goal just over a minute and a half later. Though they were the only two goals in the first 20 minutes, Amherst showed strong play all over the field, causing turnovers and denying Wesleyan any real chances.
The Cardinals finally got on the board with 10:09 left in the half, and another Wesleyan tally almost seven minutes later was a tangible indication that the momentum had shifted in Wesleyan’s favor. “Lacrosse is so much a game of momentum and once we get into a rhythm, we are unstoppable,” said Noonan. “We just need to work on regaining our momentum and composure when mistakes occur and not letting them spiral out of control.”
Amherst did just that at the end of the half. Craig fed Trapp for a goal with 15 ticks left on the clock, and Amherst took a 3-2 lead into the break. The Jeffs picked up right where they left off in the second half. Craig took a pass from attacker Christina Hopkins ’10 and scored her second goal and third point of the afternoon just 12 seconds into the frame. Then Trapp completed her hat trick and Hopkins fired a bullet past the Wesleyan goalie to stretch the Amherst lead to 6-2. The Cardinals managed to find the back of the cage before Amherst tacked on goals by Scheld and tri-captain attacker Maddie Hoeg ’08.
Though Amherst held an 8-3 advantage with 13:42 remaining, Hoeg’s goal proved to be the game-winner. With the end of their season in sight, the Cardinals rattled off four unanswered goals in less than six minutes to bring the score to 8-7.
Amherst regained possession, and for nearly five minutes the Jeffs stalled the game in their offensive zone. Wesleyan had one last chance to tie the game, but the Jeff defense came up with the stop to seal the win.
Amherst will make its eighth consecutive appearance in the NESCAC semifinals, and will play third seeded Trinity College. In their previous match-up this season, Amherst bested Trinity 9-6.
“Our successful game against Trinity in the regular [season] should give us the confidence we need to take them on, although we understand that we can’t rely on our earlier win,” said Trapp.
The Bantams are ranked 10th in the country, one spot below Amherst. “I think we are well matched opponents, and it will be a good but tough game,” said tri-captain goalie Linda McEvoy ’08.