A 1-1 tie is normally not much of an accomplishment, especially when your opponent enters the game below .500 on the season. Unless, of course, you’re playing down a man for 70 minutes. That’s what the men’s soccer team did on Saturday against Wesleyan University in a game that went to double overtime. The Jeffs will look to continue their strong play as the season nears its end, starting with this weekend’s home game against archrival Williams College.
The Cardinals struck first in the game, with a goal in the 12th minute by sophomore midfielder Geoff Zartarian. However, Amherst was quick to respond. In the 24th minute, first-year phenom forward Jae Heo tied up the game on a free kick. But disaster struck for the Jeffs when junior midfielder Reid Wilson received a red card. Amherst would have to play the remainder of the game short a man.
“I was challenging a 50-50 ball near midfield on the sideline next to all [the Wesleyan] fans,” recounted Wilson. “Their player got to the ball half a step before I did and touched the ball by me, so when I went to tackle, I got no ball and all man. I still have no idea how it was a red card: I didn’t slide, and I didn’t show him my cleats. It was just a hard foul that maybe deserved a yellow card. So when I saw the referee pull out the red card, I was stunned.”
However, the team regrouped quickly, refusing to let the controversial call decide the game. The Jeffs played hard and kept the Cardinals scoreless for the remainder of the game.
“Everybody trusted each other on and off the field,” Heo said. “I think it was that belief that united us to compete for the rest of the game.”
Not that there weren’t a few close calls. Both the Jeffs and Cardinals had prime opportunities to win the game, but neither team was able to capitalize. In the last minutes of the first overtime period, Heo again had an opportunity to be a hero, but his shot hit the post with 1:30 left to play in the period.
“As soon as I released the ball off my left foot, I told myself ‘GOAL,’ but unfortunately, it was the outside of my foot that kicked the ball, curving the ball away from the frame to hit the post,” Heo said.
The Jeffs had a scare with 2:20 left in the second overtime period. Wesleyan junior midfielder Mark Murphy had a one-on-one against first-year Amherst goalkeeper Lennard Kovacs, but sent the ball wide left of the goal.
“The only thing which I can remember that went through my mind was, ‘You are not scoring, not now,’” said Kovacs.
While the men caught a break against Wesleyan, they have little time to rest going forward. Their two remaining NESCAC games are against Williams and Trinity. Both teams are seeded above the Jeffs in the league standings. The team, however, is disregarding the statistics and standings and is instead focusing on what will likely be another epic Amherst-Williams showdown.
“[The Williams] game will be huge,” Kovacs said. “I cannot wait until Saturday. This game is not about season records, it is just Amherst-Williams, that is enough for an incredible soccer game. I hope that everybody on campus wants to see that. I would like to see there as many people as possible.”
According to Kovacs, the team is unconcerned, albeit not thrilled, about the current standings. With two games to go until NESCAC playoff play, the Jeffs stand at fifth place—fairly secure in gaining a playoff berth, but no home field advantage. However, the team refuses to let anyone stand in their way.
“This seed is of course not optimal,” Kovacs said. “But as we want to win this championship, we have to beat every team anyway. So I do not care if we get the best opponent in the quarters, semis, or in the final. The only advantage we will miss is the home advantage, but we want to be the best team in the NESCAC, so that should not disturb us.”