With only six first-years, the majority of the team has played together for at least a year. This familiarity with the game and one another has been apparent throughout the season in the complexity of the plays made and the fluidity of their movement down the field. The team makes staggering amounts of shots on goal per game. They’re headers into the top-left corner of the goal; they’re crosses and quick-footed breakaways resulting in superior shots.
Playing 90 straight minutes of soccer was one of the team’s goals this season. Ninety minutes played without a defensive lapse or an advantage wasted. The progression towards this goal is evident. The season consists of ten wins thus far, no ties and two losses. But numbers in no way tell the entire story. The first game was an encouraging win; however, the next two matches were both a narrow win followed by a narrow loss on foreign fields. Gradually things stabilized, partially, with three consecutive wins until the Williams College game. The remainder of the season, thus far, has been a testament to the growth of the team in these past five weeks. Only two games remain before NESCAC titles are decided by postseason games. Bit by bit, the team has shown its ability to play a full two halves of intense and organized soccer, regardless of the elements.
The Williams game was probably one of the hardest games the team had to play. College rivalries are not to be trivialized, especially the one between Amherst and Williams. Rooted in a more than century old conflict, started long before the construction of the field they play on, Amherst athletes still consider a loss to Williams a personal offense. So the women fought in the midst of rain, wet grass and slippery balls not just for a win, but in defense of Amherst pride. However, the game was tough and the Jeffs did their best, but in the end were not able to push a win through as they had hoped. Rather than become downtrodden following the loss, the women of the Amherst soccer team were able to learn and use it as a pivotal point of the season. They came back and have yet to lose a game since.
Head Coach Jennifer Hughes is aware of the rough beginning, but is quick to acknowledge the amount of potential and skill present on the team.
“We had a slow start, but things are finally starting to come together. We have a lot of momentum right now after some big wins against solid opponents,” said Hughes. “We’re hoping to carry that momentum through the end of the regular season and into the postseason. If we can improve on our consistency, we have a shot at a NESCAC title and a run deep into the NCAAs.”
The past week’s competition has been especially relentless on the team, with three games in the span of five days. However, the Jeffs have shown no sign of fatigue and fully realize what is at stake in these final games of the season. This consciousness has led to three consecutive shut outs against Bates College, Eastern Connecticut State University and Colby College. Each of the games was away, one even taking the team all the way to Maine, in the freezing cold. The most recent game was against Keene State College and the result was a 4-1 win. The victory is the soccer team’s fifth consecutive win since their loss against Williams.
So with their last home game of the season on Saturday, it truly is a Homecoming. Tension and pressure may be high, but so are raw talent and intensity, and the combination of those makes for great soccer.