Last season the Amherst men’s hockey team rattled off an astounding 16 wins in 17 games en route to a NESCAC Championship and the program’s first-ever berth to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in Lake Placid, N.Y. Led by National Player of the Year Jonathan La Rose ’12 in goal, the team had arguably the most successful season ever. One year later, the Jeffs return to Orr Rink with high expectations of similar success and, inevitably, question marks about just how to replace the class of 2012.
Soccer can be a cruel sport, a game in which it’s often better to be lucky than good.
Derailed by five shots off the crossbar, the men’s soccer team suffered a devastating loss to Williams in the NCAA Quarterfinals last Sunday, battling to a 0-0 tie in regulation before falling 4-3 in penalty kicks.
Amherst (17-0-3) controlled play for the majority of the contest — outshooting the Ephs 23-7 and peppering the Williams’ box with corner kicks and long throw-ins all afternoon — but inexplicably failed to find the back of the net.
While most Amherst students enjoyed some downtime last week, the men’s basketball team did just the opposite, as their 2012-2013 season got off to a quick start with three games over the break.
Coming off an impressive, 26-win campaign last year, the defending league champion Jeffs are looking to build on that success this season.
Fresh off an emotional NESCAC title over Williams last weekend, the men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 with a 4-0 victory over Dickinson (Pa.) on Sunday.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead after 60 tense minutes, the Jeffs (16-0-2) exploded for three goals in an eight-minute span in the second half to bury Dickinson (13-4-2).
If you play or have played football at any level, chances are you at least know of someone who has experienced severe and/or long-lasting sequelae from a head injury. Followers of this year’s Amherst football team know the story of Ryan Silva ’14, and, unfortunately, his saga is not unique. A few years ago, this issue hit close to home when a now-19-year-old man, previously a middle school football teammate of mine, was involved in a head-injury horror story.
Women
Keri Lambert broke from the pack Saturday to win her second-straight NCAA New England Regional Championship and fifth-consecutive race of the season. In what has already proved to be a grand finale to her collegiate career, Lambert has now earned herself a spot at NCAA Nationals, held in Terre Haute, Ind., where she will look to improve on her fifth-place finish last year.
The season ended earlier than anyone expected. The women’s soccer team, seeded number one in the New England region, was upset in the first round by unseeded Lasell College.
Having earned the right to host at least the first four rounds, the Jeffs fell 3-1 to the Lasers. Molly Masiero ’16 struck in the 22nd minute. Perhaps more importantly, center back Sandy Shepherd ’13 was injured on the play and would not return to the game. The College’s other center back, Emily Little ’13, was suspended for her now-infamous throw-in.
