Fresh off the program’s first-ever NESCAC title, the Lord Jeffs begin their run at the NCAA Div. III Championship Saturday against WNEC, the Commonwealth Coast champions. The Jeffs have faced the Golden Bears in the past two NCAA tournaments, splitting the games 1-1.

Key to an Amherst victory will be the play of its two leading scorers: forwards Jake Duker ’09 and Jae Heo ’12. Quad-captain Duker just received NESCAC Player of the Week Honors and is a contender for NESCAC Player of the Year, while Heo is the Jeffs’ second-leading scorer. Another rookie is equally vital on the defensive end: goalkeeper Lennard Kovacs, who is coming off a shutout weekend in the NESCAC Tournament.

WNEC will rely on its pair of scorers, forwards Jason Totman ’09 and Jason Sabia ’10. Defender Kevin Zimbal ’09 is a dual threat; a strong defender, he also scored the winning goal in the Commonwealth Coast championship game.