After a heartbreaking overtime loss to the third-ranked Middlebury Panthers, the Jeffs travelled to Mount Holyoke on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to take on the Lyons in a Five College battle.
The Lyons jumped out to an early lead. Diana Banmann scored unassisted just eight minutes into the first half. The 1-0 score would remain through the first thirty-five minutes of play.
Banmann was also the one to get things started in the second half. Doubling the Lyons lead, she scored off a rebound stemming from the shot of Mount Holyoke midfielder Sarah LaQuerre.
Amherst answered with just over twenty minutes left to play as Katie Paolano ’16 netted an assist from Sarah Cuhlane ’17.
The Jeffs would knot things at two just minutes later. The attacked formed thanks to an Amherst corner. Krista Zsitvay ’14 had a shot on net, and Paolano was able to finish the rebound, scoring her second goal on the day.
Despite mounting a strong offensive attack and having the advantage in shots (31-9) and corners (29-2), Amherst would suffer another OT loss.
Banmann provided the final blow, capping a hat trick. Just two minutes into extra time she was able to find the twine on a rebound provided by the shot of Kirsten Kilburn.
Carrying an 0-2 record that was not indicative of the quality of their play, the Jeffs headed into a NESCAC contest on Saturday, Sept. 14 against the fourth-ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears.
Annika Nygren ’16 got the scoring started about eleven minutes in, scoring off an assist from Paolano who had gained possession upfield.
The Polar Bears would answer before the half was out. Forward Emily Simonton found the back of the net after a rebound came loose in the crease.
It appeared as if Bowdoin would take the lead going into intermission, creating a strong offensive attack and earning three consecutive corners. After an Amherst penalty, Katie Riley was awarded a penalty shot for Bowdoin. She aimed to junior goalie Rachel Tannenbaum’s left side, but Tannenbaum was able to make an incredible diving stop, ensuring that the scored remained tied heading into the half.
This save would fuel the Jeffs for the second half.
“Any time a goalie saves a stroke, it sends a wave of energy through the rest of the team,” commented Coach Carol Knerr.
The energy level and motivation was apparent throughout the final thirty-five minutes from the Jeffs.
Bowdoin took the lead early in the half after earning a corner. Colleen Finerty received the pass from the right side and had a shot on goal. The ball deflected off of Tannenbaum, and Riley was able to finish the rebound.
The Jeffs, however would not allow Bowdoin to maintain the lead — or to recapture it for the rest of the match.
After a strong offensive drive, Paolano tied the score at two, finishing off an assist from first-year Mary Margaret Stoll.
Just two minutes later, Nygren (NESCAC player of the week) provided what would ultimately be the game winner. Amherst controlled play on the right side as Zsitvay crossed the ball allowing Nygren to sink her second goal of the contest.
Senior midfielder Alex Philie provided an insurance goal for the Jeffs as she scored from the center of the circle off a corner pass from Ellie Andersen ’15. This was the Jeffs third goal in a short, twelve minute window.
“To score three goals in a span of 12 minutes speaks to how much of an attacking threat our team can be,” Coach Knerr noted.
The Amherst defense was able to stifle the Bowdoin attack for the remainder of the game. Tannenbaum closed out the game by venturing out of the net to shut down a Bowdoin breakaway in the final seconds. She finished with fourteen saves in the Jeffs’ upset of the 4th ranked Polar Bears.
Next up, the Jeffs (1-2) will face Williams (0-3) on Saturday, Sept. 21 at noon, in Williamstown.
