After clinching five consecutive Final Four berths from 2009-13 and winning the 2009 national championship, Amherst has added a unique accolade to their resume. With their Nov. 23 defeat of Baruch, the purple and white made history as the second team in NCAA basketball history, including both men’s and women’s programs, to win 100-straight home games. The Jeffs also passed the NCAA women’s record for most consecutive home games won, previously held by UConn.
For the second time in the last three seasons and the third time over the past five seasons, the men’s soccer team saw its season come to an end in the NCAA tournament on penalty kicks. This year, the Jeffs were unable to finish off the fifth-ranked Brandeis Judges in the NCAA third round following a 0-0 draw through two overtime periods. This came after the Jeffs’ fifth straight appearance in the Sweet 16 and Amherst’s ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. The Jeffs finished the 2014 season with a 14-1-6 overall record.
The men’s ice hockey team was quite busy over the Thanksgiving break as it played five games and took home victories in four out of the five. Following a loss at Trinity, the Jeffs’ offense hit its stride and scored at least five goals in the next three games, all Amherst wins, and then defeated Nazareth this past Sunday at home in a 1-0 defensive showdown.
Men
Entering the season ranked 21st in the nation, the men’s squash team earned a 7-2 win over the 33rd-ranked Northeastern Huskies on Saturday, Nov. 22 to open up their 2014 campaign.
In his debut in the top spot of the lineup, captain Alex Southmayd ’15 earned a 3-0 sweep over TJ Dyer in a match that included an exciting 12-10 third game.
Fellow co-captain Scott DeSantis commanded his match in the No. 2 spot, defeating his opponent 11-2, 11-6, 11-3. In the No. 3 spot first-year Cameorn Bhadori cruised in his collegiate debut with a 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 win.
Coming off their second conescutive NCAA Div. III Final Four Performance, the Amherst men’s basketball team began their 2014 campaign with three decisive wins.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18 Amherst travelled to Paxton, Massachusetts to take on Anna Maria. The second-ranked Jeffs trailed at the half, but overcame the defecit to defeat the Amcats 74-67.
Women
The women of Amherst swim and dive started their Thanksgiving break off with a win at home, defeating the mules of Colby 148-100. With an astounding individual performance, Emily Hyde ’16 won 100-yard freestyle, the 200 freestyle, and the 200 individual medley. Fellow junior Hannah Hummel snagged two more victories for the Jeffs in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke.
The women’s hockey team worked hard over Thanksgiving Break to earn their turkey dinners. The Jeffs strung together three impressive wins in a row to remain undefeated with five wins. The Jeffs opened up their Thanksgiving break with two matchups against NESCAC foe Wesleyan. Amherst downed the Cardinals 4-1 on Friday and 4-3 in overtime on Saturday. A week later, the Jeffs traveled to SUNY Cortland to face the Red Dragons. The Jeffs won definitively in that matchup with a score of 9-1. First-year Brenna Sullivan factored into the first win against Wesleyan, notching two goals.
