The Amherst women’s soccer team moved to 2-0 (2-0 NESCAC) for the season with Saturday’s 1-0 victory on the road over the Tufts University Jumbos. The low-scoring game featured a scoreless first half and outstanding performances by Amherst sophomore goalkeeper Allie Horwitz and Tufts goalkeeper Kate Minnehan. Horwitz, playing 67 minutes, managed six saves during the game and succeeded in blunting the Jumbos’ every scoring opportunity. With the latest win, she extends her impressive shutout streak to 157 minutes and two games. The defenders outside the goalie box also played well, as senior Kathy Nolan, junior Hanna St. Marie and sophomores Alison Dorey and Jill Kochanek disrupted various attacks by the home team.

The defensive stalemate finally broke five minutes into the second half with the game’s sole goal by Amherst junior forward Jackie Hirsch, who kicked home a rebound of teammate junior Kyla Woodhouse’s shot off the Tufts goalkeeper. The goal was Hirsch’s third goal of the season in just two games. The purple and white’s clamp-down defense, which included a blocked shot by way of a header from Kochanek, ensured the Lord Jeffs’ victory as the clock wound down.

Amherst finished the game with 10 shots, seven corner kicks, six saves, and 11 fouls versus the Jumbos’ 10 shots, one corner kick, seven saves, and six fouls. With the loss, Tufts falls to 1-2 (0-2 NESCAC).

A day after facing Tufts, the Jeffs journeyed to Saratoga Springs, NY, for a Sunday match against Skidmore College, who handed the Jeffs their first defeat of the young season. The tough-luck 1-0 loss brings Amherst back to earth, putting them at 2-1 for the season, while Skidmore moves to 5-1-1.

The Thoroughbreds mounted an early offensive against the Jeffs when Skidmore’s Emily Quirk managed to get a pass through the usually solid Amherst defense to first-year Rebecca Russo, who scored the only goal of the game, and her first as a collegian, at the 4:20 mark.

Skidmore’s stiff defense proved to be the difference the rest of the way, as the Thoroughbreds held Amherst to very few scoring opportunities despite the Jeffs’ best efforts in playing their second match in two days.

Horwitz emphasized her team’s ability despite the loss. “We can play with anyone, but every game will be a battle,” said the goalie.

Skidmore goalie Megan Sleezer managed seven saves throughout the game in tallying her remarkable fourth shutout for the season. Amherst’s Horwitz was nearly as impressive with her six saves. Over the course of the game, the Jeffs’ stalwart effort was apparent, managing 12 shots to Skidmore’s 10 and four corner kicks to Skidmore’s two.

The Amherst side hopes to bounce back into the win column on Wednesday, September 23, when they play host to Springfield College for a 4:30 p.m. match.

“We need to come into games really fired up and excited to play our style of soccer,” said Horwitz. “If we string together a full 90 minutes of solid play, we can’t be stopped.”