Photo by Erik Andrews '09 Sophomore midfielder Ryan O'Donnell has dealt clutch saves down the stretch for the Jeffs.

Fourth-Seeded Jeffs Set for NESCAC Semifinal Matchup with No. 3 seed Middlebury

November 3 , 2005

AMHERST, MA - The fourth-seeded Amherst College men's soccer team is set to face No. 3 seed Middlebury College in the NESCAC Championship Tournament Semifinals, hosted by seventh-ranked and top-seeded Williams College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Jeffs advanced to their first semifinal since 2002, with a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime victory over visiting fifth-seeded Bates College on Sunday, while Middlebury earned its sixth straight semifinal appearance with a 1-0 win over visiting No. 6 seed Tufts University.

At 8-4-3, the Jeffs have had a roller-coaster season, but have settled in as of late, posting a 3-1-1 record down the stretch, including a 2-1 win over Middlebury on Oct. 20. The outstanding play of senior Joe Gannon (Hanson, MA) and junior Mike Wohl (Northampton, MA) has been key in the Jeffs' run, as one of the two have had a hand in each of the Jeffs' last eight goals. Gannon posted both goals in Amherst's first-round tournament win over Bates, including the game-winning penalty kick with just four second left in the second extra frame, while Wohl has been red-hot, scoring six of his team-high seven goals over the last seven games of the season. Rookie striker Nick Lynch (Kingston, Jamaica) and sophomore midfielder Taylor Downs (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) both serve as legitimate scoring threats for the Jeffs with five and four goals, respectively, on the season, while sophomore Ryan O'Donnell (Belchertown, MA) and first-year Jacob Duker (Newton, MA) have had a knack for finding open scorers, tallying big assists in the Jeffs' recent victories.

The Amherst defense has been solid all season, holding opponents to less than 10 shots per game and pitching a trio of shutouts. Seniors Ben Lavely (New Orleans, LA), Greg Lockwood (Vancouver, WA), Christian Alexander (Santa Fe, NM), Jeremy Kelley (Randolph, MA), sophomore John Kneeland (Holden, MA) and first-years Grayson Holland (Sudbury, MA) and Rory O'Connor (West Boylston, MA) have all been instrumental in the Jeffs' defensive success, and hope to continue their outstanding play down the stretch. However, Lockwood, having suffered a hand injury in the Middlebury win, will not be in action this weekend. Rookie Jeff Grover (Framingham, MA) has been in goal in Lockwood's absence, playing extremely well and posting 21 saves and a 0.76 goals against average.

Middlebury (10-3-1) is one of only two teams to reach the NESCAC Tournament Semifinals in each of the six years of the tournament's existence. The Panthers boast the conference's top defense, surrendering only 0.56 goals per game. Reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Zack Toth (Carlile, MA) has led the way with an outstanding 0.58 goals against average, .875 save percentage and eight shutouts, all best in the NESCAC. Rookie Baer Fisher (Kenilworth, IL) and senior Gabe Wood (Tacoma, WA) have led Middlebury's attack with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while 2004 All-NESCAC defender Derek Cece (Williamstown, MA) has five goals.

The winner will advance to face victor of the other semifinal matchup between Williams and seventh-seeded Wesleyan University, which upset No. 2 seed Bowdoin College, 4-1, in the opening round, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament at stake. Sunday's championship game is set for noon.

2005 NESCAC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
First Round-Sunday, Oct. 30 at Higher Seeds at 12:30 p.m.
No. 7 Wesleyan 4 at No. 2 Bowdoin 1
No. 6 Tufts 0 at No. 3 Middlebury 1
No. 5 Bates 1 at No. 4 Amherst 2 (2OT)

Semifinals-Saturday, Nov. 5 at Williams
No. 1 Williams vs. No. 7 Wesleyan (11 a.m.)
No. 3 Middlebury vs. No. 4 Amherst (1:30 p.m.)

Finals-Sunday, Nov. 6 at Williams
Semifinal winners (noon)