Mired in a three-game losing streak, the men’s lacrosse team entered Saturday’s game at Hamilton desperate for a victory.
With a NESCAC record of 1-3 and games looming against top contenders Tufts, Middlebury and Conn College, the Jeffs could ill-afford to lose at Hamilton (4-4, 2-4 NESCAC); otherwise, the unthinkable scenario of missing the NESCAC Tournament — (where eight of 11 teams qualify) — would continue to emerge as a distinct possibility.
Enduring some growing pains with a young, inexperienced roster, the men’s lacrosse team suffered back-to-back overtime defeats at Colby and Bates last weekend.
In both heartbreaking losses, the Jeffs (0-2) rallied from late deficits in regulation, only to concede the first goal in sudden-death overtime. Amherst is now just 2-8 in its last 10 games against NESCAC opponents (dating back to last season).
After falling spectacularly short of expectations last year, the men’s lacrosse team begins the new season with a chip on its shoulder, eager to reassert its status as one of the top teams in the NESCAC. Starting fresh after a disappointing 9-7 (5-5 NESCAC) season in 2012, the Jeffs hope to rebound with an influx of new young talent.
“We will be a fairly young squad,” third-year head coach Jon Thompson said. “My goals will be to relentlessly pursue individual and collective improvement so that we are playing our best lacrosse in late April.”
Frustrated by a tough opposing goaltender, the men’s hockey team ended its season in gut-wrenching fashion, suffering a 4-3 loss to Middlebury in the NESCAC Quarterfinals at Orr Rink last Saturday.
The Jeffs (15-7-3, 11-5-2 NESCAC) mounted a furious comeback in the dying minutes —scoring twice in the final 2:47 to close the deficit from 4-1 to 4-3 — but the spirited rally provided little consolation in the dejected postgame locker room.
“When a season ends there are no moral victories,” head coach Jack Arena said. “The guys were devastated.”
After a gut-wrenching 4-2 loss to Williams on Friday, the men’s hockey team rebounded to a thrilling 5-3 comeback win over Middlebury in the regular season finale last Saturday. With the victory, the Jeffs (15-6-3, 11-5-2 NESCAC) clinched home-ice advantage in the NESCAC Tournament quarterfinals. As the No. 4 seed, the Jeffs have earned a rematch with No. 5 Middlebury (12-10-2, 11-5-2 NESCAC) at Orr Rink this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Bolstered by tenacious forechecking and surging offensive production, the men’s hockey team cruised to a pair of easy victories last weekend, defeating NESCAC bottom-feeders Conn. College 4-2 and Tufts 6-1.
The Jeffs (14-5-3, 10-4-2 NESCAC) are now preparing for the most pivotal regular season weekend of the year — a home doubleheader against Williams and Middlebury, two of Amherst’s most competitive rivals in hockey.
Propelled by an early four-goal outburst and a virtuoso 37-save performance from goaltender Nathan Corey ’13, the men’s hockey team skated to an impressive 6-3 win at Bowdoin last Friday. The Jeffs (12-5-3, 8-4-2 NESCAC, No. 11 in the country) matched a season-high by scoring six goals against the No. 2 Polar Bears (17-2-1, 11-2-1 NESCAC).
