The field hockey team fell short in its 2008 NESCAC debut on Saturday against the sixth-ranked team in the nation, Middlebury College. Despite playing a spectacular first half and going ahead of their opponents 2-1, the Jeffs could not hold on for the victory, as the Middlebury Panthers answered Amherst’s go-ahead goal with four of their own to post a score of 5-2 as the final whistle blew.
Though the Panthers struck first, scoring barely 10 minutes into the game, the rest of the half was dominated by a tenacious Amherst offense that outshot its opponents 13-5. As the first stanza came to a close, sophomore forward Liz Schink finally capitalized for the Jeffs, scoring her second goal of the season to tie up the game as the teams headed for the lockers.
At the start of the second half, it looked like the Jeffs would continue their dominant play. Schink connected for the second time in the game, tipping in a picture-perfect Amherst corner. But the game went downhill from there, as the Panthers quickly tied it up and then began to score almost at will.
“Once they scored to tie up the game, I think we all started playing a little tentatively, were a little less aggressive, and gave them a little more room to work,” said tri-captain midfielder Alyssa Dudzik ’09. “They got a couple more chippy goals and, each time they scored, they gained more momentum and I think we started to panic more and more, and that showed in our play.”
The Amherst players were never able to regain their stride and the game ended with a relieved Middlebury squad and a team of disappointed Lord Jeffs. Despite the result, however, the Jeffs recognize many positive points that they can take away from the match.
“Though the score doesn’t indicate it, I can say without doubt that our first half and beginning of the second half is the best field hockey play I’ve been a part of at Amherst,” asserted Dudzik. “We truly played as a team in the first half and just clicked very well. I think our team chemistry off the field is beginning to show on the field and we’ll only keep improving together.”
Schink now leads the Jeffs in total points, with three goals in two games, but will need the rest of her teammates to step up. In the coming weeks, the team will need to focus on playing consistently throughout the game. They must also practice their transitions to defense and limit the number of defensive corners they give up. But the team has confidence for the future; the Jeffs recognize that every game is a learning experience and they are ready to prove themselves as contenders for the NESCAC title.
“Through this loss, we have learned the necessity of consistency, finishing and playing out every last minute of the game,” said tri-captain defender Louise Stevenson ’09. “We also now know what losing feels like—it sucks. Check that box, been there, done that, ACFH is done with losing.”
Apparently, the Jeffs took those lessons to heart. In the team’s next game, last night against Smith College, its offense busted out to score nine goals on its home turf.
In extending their winning streak over the Pioneers to 13 games, the Jeffs got on the board early. Within the first five minutes, Amherst was already up 2-0, thanks to sterling passing from the Jeffs that led to goals by sophomore Liz Schink and junior Haley Douds.
Despite the lead, Amherst’s offense didn’t let up. The team went on to score four more goals in the first half before adding three in the final stanza. Not to be overlooked, the Jeffs defense held the Pioneers without a shot in the game.
Amherst will undoubtedly see more challenging foes in the weeks to come. But if its offense and defense play as crisp a game as they did on Tuesday, the Jeffs should have no trouble staying competitive in the NESCAC.