After defeating Eastern Connecticut State University 3-0 in the first round, the impressive women’s soccer season ended this week with a final shut-out delivered by the College of New Jersey (TCNJ). The defeat occurred at Hitchcock Field and got the team knocked out in the second round of the 2009 Division III NCAA Tournament. While the Jeffs, tried their best, they were overwhelmed by the Lions, now 18-2-1, and lost out 4-0. In the last four years Amherst has gone up against and lost out to the stalwart TCNJ each of the three times they have played.

The game got off to a slow start. Livia Rizzo ’12 just missed a header set up from junior Maureen Griffin’s well-placed corner kick at the 32 minute mark. Later, TCNJ managed an impressive score when, just minutes before the half, Katie Landrigan scored a high shot to the Amherst goal, putting the tally at 1-0. Forty-two minutes in, the TCNJ goalkeeper managed a close save from a kick from Griffin that prompted a succession of corner kicks for Amherst. The Jeffs were unable to break through the TCNJ defense, however, and would have to wait until the second half to continue.

Unfortunately the Jeffs fared a bit worse in the second half. After less than three minutes, the Lions’ Jillian Casey scored another goal, doubling their lead. Despite senior co-captain Meg Murphy’s near-miss free kick, the Jeffs were unable to close the gap. With 19 minutes remaining, Allyson Anderson managed to overcome goalie Allie Horwitz after several saves and netted the third score for TCNJ off of an extremely angled shot on the goalie’s left side. Adding insult to injury, Brittany McGinley received an assist from Alexa Rozzi for the fourth and final goal for TCNJ.

Despite a number of expertly played corner kicks and shots against the Lions’ goalie, Jessica Clarke, the team’s defense proved infallible, leaving the Jeffs tragically scoreless when the whistle sounded. This marked TCNJ’s 14th shut-out of the year. Horwitz made a strong showing with seven saves, while opponent goalie Clarke managed nine. In spite of Amherst outplaying TCNJ 10-2 in corner kicks, the shots on goal were equal at 17. This loss represents the first loss of the season for the Jeffs, bringing it to a close with a record of 13-4-1.