The Tigers came into the game with a nearly perfect 20-0-1 record and proved why they were the No. 1 seed, controlling the ball early in the half. However, the Jeffs’ defense stood solid, blocking a shot from the left wing in the 12th minute, a trend throughout the first half. Even though at the end of the period Trinity held the edge in shots 6-2, only once did the ball get to first-year goalkeeper Lennard Kovacs, who made the save.
“Even though Trinity did have control of the ball early in the game, our defense remained strong and confident and everyone really worked as a unit defensively to hold them off,” said forward/midfielder James Mooney ’12.
The Jeffs’ shots, by quad-captain forward Jake Duker ’09 and Mooney, both sailed past the Trinity frame, ending the half with neither team having a significant scoring opportunity.
However, early in the second half, the Jeffs went on the offensive, earning two corner kicks. Quad-captain defender Grayson Holland ’09 headed the second just wide, with the Jeffs again failing to put a shot on goal.
Trinity responded in kind with two corner kicks of its own in the 59th minute, missing both. However, the Tigers had a big opportunity in the 70th minute when they earned a penalty kick.
At the kick, Kovacs dived left and Trinity midfielder Tyrone Petrakis ’09 drove the shot down the middle. Although his body was hurtling in the wrong direction, Kovacs made an incredible save by blocking the shot with his legs to end the threat.
“Right after the hit, I saw that he had seen where I was diving and had tried to change the direction,” recounted Kovacs. “But fortunately, he realized it too late and flow slightly left from the center. So while the ball was flying towards my feet I tried everything to get the ball with my leg as far away from goal as possible to prevent a rebound goal. I was scared that I might not be able to get the ball sufficiently away from me.”
Starting in the 74th minute, the Jeffs rejuvenated themselves for an offensive assault. First-year forward Jae Heo began the attack with a shot that went wide left, followed closely by another header by Holland off a corner kick. This time, Holland put the ball on frame and forced Trinity goalkeeper Patrick Johnson ’10 to make the save. The onslaught finally paid off in the 87th minute. When yet another corner kick for the Jeffs, Trinity’s defense failed to clear the ball. Heo gained possession and fed it to Duker, who put in a one-touch shot to score his 15th goal of the year.
Although Trinity ended the game with the edge in shooting, the Jeffs got the one that counted to take the upset and the spot in the final four for the first time since 1997.
The Jeffs will take on Stevens Institute of Technology Friday in Greensboro, N.C., for a spot in the championship game. Although the Jeffs are reveling in their cemented spot in Amherst history — the first to take the NESCAC title and the second to reach the final four, the upset definitely has the team with their eyes on the prize.
“I think it is always a great achievement to get into a final four,” said Kovacs. “But much better would be winning a national championship. I hope we can enjoy being in the semifinal, but nonetheless, we will give everything to win both games.”