After looking strong in preseason scrimmages against Smith and Vassar Colleges, and Div. I Dartmouth College, the Jeffs suffered a 5-1 defeat this past weekend at the hands of Div. III powerhouse The College of New Jersey. Despite the loss, the Jeffs are confident in their ability to rebound in the coming weeks and to again stake their claim as a top team in the NESCAC.

Amherst came out of the gates running, as the team looked to erase a 5-0 loss to TCNJ in last year’s preseason campaign. The two teams appeared to be equally matched in the first half, both having their fair share of opportunities on goal. TCNJ broke the stalemate in the 18th minute, but Amherst rookie Livia Rizzo soon tied the game at one. As the halftime whistle blew, Amherst headed into the locker rooms confident in its ability to take the game.

The second half proved to be another matter. Amherst crumpled under the renewed pressures of TCNJ’s offense and surrendered four goals in the final 45 minutes. After two quick goals from their opponents, the Jeffs seemed to lose confidence and started to make mistakes that hadn’t appeared in the first stanza.

“The first half was a battle,” said sophomore midfielder Jillian Whiting. “The energy was really high and everyone was mentally in the game. In the second [half], though, TCNJ came out really strong and we panicked. We became a little disorganized on defense and unfortunately they were able to capitalize.”

In order for the Jeffs to successfully bounce back from the defeat, they will need to focus on the positive points of their game against TCNJ game. Not only did the team play an excellent first half, but the goal came from a first-year, which shows that the new team’s players are being successfully integrated into the lineup.

“It’s awesome that Livia scored our first regular season goal,” said Whiting. “We have a lot of depth this year and this is just one indication of how much even the first years are going to be able to contribute.”

The Jeffs recognize certain things that they will need to work on in upcoming practices.

“We’re going to work on our ability to string together passes in the midfield, our communication and winning balls in both 18 yard boxes—whether to save goals from occurring, or getting the ball in the back of the other team’s net,” said senior quad-captain Kate Bentley.

The Jeffs also need to work on playing good soccer for the full 90-minute game, as well as playing as well on the road as they do at home. Finally, the players must be able to regain focus and poise after an opponent scores.

Amherst is ready to forget the loss to TCNJ and the players are pumped up for their upcoming match against NESCAC rival Middlebury College. The Jeffs are looking for revenge, as the Panthers knocked them out of the conference tournament in both 2006 and 2007. Though Williams College is Amherst’s more traditional rival, the Middlebury-Amherst game in women’s soccer has become a serious rivalry of its own.

“We want to beat Midd to start our NESCAC season off on the right foot, and to repay them for years past,” said Bentley. “We always have tough, intense games against them, and even though I’m sure this year will be no different, I’m confident we’ll take it to them on Saturday.”

The Jeffs still have not lost sight of their over-arching goals for the season: to play to their potential, to treat each individual game as though it were a championship, and, most importantly, to make it to the semifinal game of the NCAA Tournament.