After a disappointing 0-0 draw against Williams over fall break, the men’s soccer team rebounded with three shutout wins over Trinity, Colby and Bowdoin this past fortnight, grabbing sole possession of first place in the NESCAC standings.
The undefeated Jeffs (11-0-1, 7-0-1 NESCAC, ranked No. 2 in the nation) currently lead No. 17 Williams (6-0-2) by two points in the race for the conference’s top seed. Amherst has two conference matches remaining: at third-place Wesleyan (5-1-1) on Saturday and Conn. College (0-2-6) on Wednesday.
The juggernaut men’s soccer team continued its perfect start to the season last weekend, grinding out a 2-0 victory at Tufts to spoil the Jumbos’ homecoming on Saturday. This week, the Jeffs, ranked No. 2 in the nation, improved their record to 8-0-0 (4-0-0 NESCAC).
During the seven-match winning streak, Amherst has outscored opponents by a staggering 24-1 margin. Furthermore, the Jeffs have won each game by at least two goals, avoiding the stressful one-goal contests that are so common in soccer. (Six of 16 of Amherst’s wins last year were one-goal affairs).
The men’s soccer team kicked off its NESCAC title defense in convincing fashion last weekend, booting Bates by a 2-0 score this Saturday. Federico Sucre ’13 paced the Jeffs’ attack with a goal and an assist, while the stingy, disciplined Amherst backline suffocated the Bobcats’ offense, not allowing a single shot on net.
Through their first three games, the Jeffs (3-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC, ranked No. 3 nationally) have outscored their opponents 10-0, opening the season with three consecutive shutouts for the first time in more than 15 years.
The men’s soccer team opened its season on the right foot last weekend, collecting a pair of shutout wins over Colby-Sawyer (6-0 score) and Bridgewater State (2-0). The Jeffs, ranked No. 5 in the country, will travel to Bates this weekend to begin their NESCAC title defense.
In 2011, the Jeffs also started their season against Colby-Sawyer and Bridgewater State, winning both matches by combined 5-1 score (3-0 against CS, 2-1 vs. Bridgewater). This year, however, the Jeffs won more convincingly.
Bolstered by the return of core offensive players, the men’s soccer team looks to recapture the NESCAC title this season. Led by dynamic attacking players in as Spencer Noon ’13, Jae Heo ’14 and James Mooney ’13E, the Jeffs enter the season ranked sixth in the nation, well ahead of their NESCAC rivals (the only other ranked team is Wesleyan, at No. 24).
Mired in a nightmarish slump, the men’s lacrosse team suffered a brutal setback against Tufts last weekend, losing 15-5 to the No. 5 Jumbos at Bello Field on Saturday. Back on the field three days later, the Jeffs then endured a gut-wrenching 5-4 defeat against Conn. College on Tuesday. The losses dropped Amherst’s record to 8-5 (4-4 NESCAC), marking another disappointment in an underachieving season.
Bolstered by a rejuvenated offense and a superb 22-save performance from senior goaltender Sam Jakimo, the men’s lacrosse team eked out a 12-11 victory at Middlebury last weekend, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process. The Jeffs – No. 13 in the national rankings – improved their record to 8-2 (4-2 NESCAC) and now sit one game behind Trinity (5-1) and Tufts (5-1) at the top of the conference standings.
