With two wins this week, both home and away, the women’s soccer team has proven its ability to dominate. Last Wednesday, the nationally14th-ranked team challenged Springfield College at Hitchcock Field and claimed the lead early on. Little more than eight minutes into the game, first-year midfielder/forward Kathyrn Nathan was able to adeptly score the first goal. Three minutes later the Lord Jeffs were back, with junior Hanna St. Marie making a header off a corner kick by Nathan. The Pride managed a goal before halftime, which would prove the last of the game, to bring the score to 2-1. Although not a complete shut out, it’s not an exaggeration to say that coming off of their first loss last week against Skidmore College, the team was ready to win. And win they did, bringing their season record to 4-1.

The second game this week took the Jeffs to New London, Conn., where they once again played a dominant game. They took the match 2-0. Despite however this time, the goals showed up much later in the game. Amherst put immense pressure on the Connecticut goalie, who made 19 saves during the ninety minutes, and eventually their efforts came to fruition. On the defensive side, sophomore goalie Allie Horwitz made an impressive four saves, not allowing Connecticut any leeway. During the second half of the match, senior tri-captain midfielder Meg Murphy, assisted by junior forward Jackie Hirsch, headed the ball into the upper left corner of the goal post, scoring the first goal. At the 70-minute mark, first-year forward Hannah Cooper, unassisted, scored her first collegiate goal.

While, the entire Amherst women’s soccer team is undoubtedly strong this year, the offense seems to be particularly at its best. Between these past two games alone, more than fifty shots were made on goal. Clearly dominating the field, in the two recent games Amherst women’s soccer has made two to three times as many shots on goals as its opponents. While nothing is assured, such statistics never hurt. This coming week the team is set to play two home games, taking on Johnson & Wales College and Little Three rival Williams College, which is currently ranked third nationally. Last year, both meetings with the Ephs went into overtime, with the Jeffs posting one tie and one loss. Although taking on both teams will not be an easy task, the women will look to capture their fifth and sixth wins of the season.