Amherst midfielder Heather Nowak volleyed home the game-winning goal in the 59th minute, and the Lord Jeffs (10-1-1, 7-0-1 NESCAC) held on for a 2-1 victory over Wesleyan women’s soccer on Saturday. The loss drops the Cardinals (5-7-1, 3-5 NESCAC) into eighth place in the conference before their final game of the regular season this Saturday against Bowdoin.
The Cardinals entered the match just in front of Bowdoin in the NESCAC standings, while Amherst entered the game ranked third in the region and twentieth in the national Division III poll. With the victory, Amherst clinched the regular season NESCAC title.
The first half saw sloppy play as both teams found the soggy pitch difficult footing. The Cardinals appeared to handle the conditions better, however, and created the more dangerous scoring opportunities. At the other end of the field, the Wesleyan defense continued their impressive play, holding Amherst to just one shot on goal in the first half.
A ten minute segment in the second period decided the game’s outcome. The Lord Jeffs earned a corner in the 56th minute, and Stephanie Yesnik’s cross bounced around the box before Amherst’s leading scorer, Amy Armstrong, put home her ninth goal of the season.
Despite falling behind, the Cards continued the pressure; at times Amherst looked surprised by Wesleyan’s high level of play. Only two minutes after Amherst took the lead, Marcia Whitehead ’08 played Nicole Gray ’08 a ball eighteen yards from goal, and Gray deposited the ball in Amherst’s net and tied the game at one.
Only minutes later the Lord Jeffs Armstrong played a cross to Nowak, who one timed a volley past Elkind for the eventual game winner.
Despite falling behind again, the Cards continued to work hard and created several scoring chances. Amherst goalkeeper Piper Crowell was up to the task, though, registering eight saves in total, and stopping a breakaway with just seconds remaining on the clock.
“Saturday’s game, although we didn’t come out with the win, was just what we needed to do as part of getting ready for next week’s game vs. Bowdoin. A goal was definitely coming to us in those final minutes against Amherst, we just ran out of time,” Gray said.
The Cards’ loss, coupled with Bowdoin’s victory over Trinity on Saturday, sets up a win-or-go-home match this Saturday. A victory will send the Cards through to the playoffs while a loss or tie will end their season.
“Playing well against the number one team shows us that we need to keep our own level of play high, but also gives us a confidence boost going into next weekend. We will be training hard this week so that when we play Bowdoin for the final playoff spot on Saturday we will come out with intensity and composure,” Whitehead said.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. on newly-dedicated Jackson Field.
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