After a big win over the Tufts Jumbos, the thirteenth-ranked women’s lax team returned home Saturday to face the Amherst Lady Jeffs, the third best team in the NESCAC. Despite streaking to an early 4-0 lead, the Cards were unable to maintain their momentum and lost 13-7, falling to 8-4 (3-4 NESCAC). Amherst, the reigning national champions, improved their record to 10-1 (6-1 NESCAC).
The first ten minutes were beautiful to watch. The first goal of the game was from Becca Vogel ’05 as she cut and slashed her way through three Lady Jeffs to beat Olivia D’Ambrosio high. Bernadette Doykos ’04 lent her first of two assists to Vogel as the Cardinals went up 1-0 early. Only a few minutes later, Vogel knocked away an Amherst pass and sent the ball to Martina McPherson ’04, who got hammered near the goal, earning herself a free position shot. She converted at 23:56 for a 2-0 lead. A minutes later, McPherson beat D’Ambrosio again and cut across the field. With 20:10 to go in the first half, Vogel scored her second lamplighter as she raced down the near side. Wes took charge and jumped to a quick 3-0 lead.
“We had a great start to the game. Amherst was one of those games you like to get out of your system,” said coach Holly Wheeler. “A few key contributors struggled, and to beat Amherst, we need everyone to be at the top of their game.”
But from then on in the half, the Lady Jeffs chipped their way back into the game. Lord Jeff Liz Martin finally beat Meriel Darzen ’04 on a free position shot with 15:14 remaining. At 9:11, the Amherst lass scored a second time stick-side. Nearly six minutes passed until either team scored again. With 3:47 left, Allison Aldrich beat Darzen, to close the Cardinal lead to one. At 2:16, Ashley Harmeling, who had assisted on the previous goal, tied the contest 4-4. Less than a minute later, Scotty Hanley took the 5-4 lead for Amherst; a lead they would never relinquish.
“We started off great and all and then we let up a little and give the other team hope for one reason or another,” Vogel said. “We can’t let them get back into the game. We hope that we see them [Amherst] again in the playoffs because I think we can beat them.”
Amherst had a strong run to begin the second half. Harmeling performed a nice fake on Darzen, which enabled her to beat the Wes goalie to her left. Vogel struck back to bring the lead back to one as she slipped past the briefly opened defense for her third goal of the game, to make the game 6-5. The goal was her 32nd of the year and places her two points behind Debbie Saudek ’92 for the all-time scoring record of 138. Unfortunately, the Cardinals would never get closer. Hanley scored at 20:39 and Harmeling beat Darzen on a free position shot with 12:26 left to take an 8-5 lead.
Martin scored with 11:34 remaining, and Harmeling added two more to the Lady Jeffs lead. Finally with 2:43 left in the game, Emily Pfeiffer ’05 scored for the Cards to cut the Amherst lead to 12-6. Martin found the net twice more, while Cortney Tetrault ’07 netted the final goal for the Birds. The Cardinals were unable to find the net and dropped the game 13-7, even though Amherst only out-shot Wes 26-21. Cardinals’ goalie Darzen was solid in net, making ten saves.
Wheeler still found positives in the game, despite the score. “Katharine Needham [’05] is one of our most consistent players as she continues to improve and make plays from the back,” she said. “We’ve been able to count on her all season to make big plays when it counts.”
The match was also the final home game for the three seniors, Darzen, Doykos, and McPherson.
The Cardinals gave a valiant effort as they have all season. Despite having the most win season in school history, they are still in control of their own fate over their final two regular season matches, road games at Trinity and Colby. The Cardinals next play at Trinity, Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Bantams are in a four-way tie with Wes for fourth place in NESCAC. A win would solidify their chances of making the NESCAC Tournament for the second consecutive year.
Leave a Reply