To kick off the fall season, the field hockey team found its stride by claiming a solid 3-1 win over Connecticut College on Saturday. Fifteen minutes into the first half, the Jeffs were down 1-0, but they rallied in the latter part of the game, striking back with three goals. The 3-1 victory injected a double shot of confidence and morale into the team, as the Jeffs now possess a record of 1-0.
Amherst’s new faces immediately made an impact in the season opener. Central to the cause was first-year Emily Vitale, who guarded the goal posts in her collegiate debut. Although Conn. College’s Abby Hine ’11 managed to knock one goal past Vitale, the rookie goalkeeper fended off six other goal attempts and provided a formidable defense. The Camels’ early lead only served to motivate the Jeffs.
“We started off the Conn. game a bit anxious,” admitted sophomore forward Liz Schink. “But after a quick time-out and a reminder from our coaches that we need to relax and focus on basic hockey, we were able to settle in and play our game.”
Schink, in fact, equalized the score barely eight minutes after the Camels’ attack. Head Coach Carol Knerr added that the ball had been rolling out of bounds, but Schink slid into a dive to score the goal single-handedly. Midfielder Carly Dudzik ’12 then racketed up the Jeffs’ momentum by putting away the penalty corner awarded late in the first half. Amherst, however, did not settle for the narrow 2-1 margin. Adding insurance, senior defender Catherine Calvert rounded out the scoring with the Jeffs’ third and final goal—a spectacular smash into the net from the right post.
“[We] came back to score three goals, which I think says a lot about our team,” commented Dudzik. “With this win under our belt, I think we will feel more relaxed in our upcoming games.”
Because of the number of rookies on the team, the Jeffs needed a solid start to the season to build confidence. Saturday’s win did just that, reaffirming the Jeffs’ trust in their team dynamics. “Right now,” said Schink, “everything seems to be clicking for this team both on and off the field.”
True to the team motto, “one day at a time,” the Jeffs are becoming increasingly more comfortable with each other and their roles with each practice. The win against Conn. College was, in Knerr’s words, “a hard-fought team effort.” And the depth of the bench will offer many options for team strategies, especially in the upcoming match against conference competitor Middlebury College on Saturday, Sept. 13.
In the meantime, the team deviated from its regular practice schedule on Tuesday to welcome Erin for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. The players were very excited to meet Erin, the four-year-old girl who the team will adopt for the season. Knerr emphasized that living on a college campus, especially one like Amherst, has a “bubble” effect and that the team’s activities with Erin will serve to give everyone a new perspective.