ECSU enters the tournament confidently, having won the Little East Conference championship. The Jeffs have played ECSU once before this season, defeating them 2-0 and outshooting them 14-5. If they repeat their win this weekend, the Jeffs will then take on the winner of Plattsburgh State University and The College of New Jersey on Hitchcock Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
In the NESCAC semifinal against the Panthers last weekend, the Jeffs came out strong in a physical battle that resulted in 31 total fouls. Despite the physical pressure, the Jeffs stayed aggressive, outshooting Middlebury 18-11. However, it was the Panthers who broke through in the 50th minute. After Amherst conceded one of only two corner kicks throughout the entire game, Panther midfielder Margaret Owen took advantage of the situation and served a well-placed ball into the box. Panther Jenny Galgano leapt up to meet it, heading the ball into the left side of the net from approximately eight yards out.
Ten minutes later, the Jeffs had a great scoring opportunity when Hannah Cooper ’13 launched a loose ball at the goal that ricocheted off the crossbar. This was only one of many of Amherst’s scoring opportunities, forcing Panther goalkeeper Lauryn Torch to make seven saves whereas Amherst keeper Allie Horwitz ’12 was tested only four times.
Middlebury will now move on to the championship match against Williams in an attempt to break the Ephs’ two-year stranglehold on the NESCAC championship.
The loss will not set the Jeffs back as they march forward in the NCAA. According to first-year center midfielder Kathryn Nathan, “The team is saying that this is like the beginning of a new season … Everything’s kind of coming together.”
The Jeffs will kick off at 11 a.m. this Saturday on Hitchcock Field.