A goal resulting from a Jessy Hale free kick lifted the Amherst College women’s soccer team to a 1-0 upset victory over the third-ranked Panthers of Middlebury College (1-1) in Sunday’s season opener.
After three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, head coach Jen Hughes and the Lady Jeffs set out to continue their impressive form in 2014. Finishing the 2013 season with a 10-4-3 record, the Jeffs found their way to the NCAA tournament through an at-large bid after falling to Trinity in the quarterfinals of NESCACs. In a back-and-forth battle against Messiah in the second round, Amherst saw its season come to a close, as the team failed to convert on several scoring opportunities, losing 2-0.
The Amherst softball team finished their 2014 season this week, going 4-2 on the week. After knocking off Elms College and winning their Hamilton series, the team split a doubleheader with WPI to finish the season 21-11. The Jeffs end the year in third place in the NESCAC West behind Williams and Middlebury — just short of qualifying for the NESCAC tournament.
Against non-conference opponent Elms College (11-14) on Wednesday, April 23, Jackie Buechler ’17 had a phenomenal showing on the mound, tossing a one-hit shutout and amassing 10 strikeouts as Amherst topped the Bolts 5-0.
The Amherst softball team swept Keene State this past weekend in a non-conference series.
In the first game of the doubleheader against Owls on Saturday, Donna Leet ’15 and Briana Cook ’16 helped the Jeffs jump out to a quick 1-0 start, as Leet singled and then stole second to advance into scoring position. Cook sent a shot deep to left field to drive the junior home for the score. Amherst tacked on another Leet run in the third with a double from senior Carolyn Miller.
The Amherst softball team beat MCLA twice and Williams once en route to a 3-2 record over the past week.
Cruising to a two-game sweep over non-conference opponent, MCLA, the Jeffs defeated the Trailblazers 11-3 (six innings) and 12-0 (five innings). In the first game of the double-header, the Jeffs secured an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back, later extending the lead to 6-0.
Two weeks into conference play, the Amherst softball team (12-4 overall and 3-2 in NESCAC) stretched its win streak to five games, beating Wesleyan in back to back contests the weekend of March 28, before dropping a three-game series to Middlebury this past weekend.
Though the team was originally scheduled to play home games, poor weather conditions moved the Wesleyan series to Middletown, Conn.
