Amherst Weekly SportsWrap, 10/26

Amherst College Weekly Fall Sports Wrap-Up

Issue 7 for athletic events from October 21-26, 1997

Football Makes it Six a Row

Amherst pushed its win streak to six in the mud of Medford as the Jeffs tallied a 14-6 victory over Tufts to remain one of two undefeated teams in the NESCAC. The Jeffs hold for a third week at No. 3 in the ECAC Weekly Poll

The Jeffs are coming off a 14-6 victory over Tufts as the Jumbos held Amherst to its lowest offensive output so far this season. Amherst kept the ball in the Tufts half the majority of the opening quarter, but rain and mud hindered the JeffsU ball movement into the endzone, including two field goal attempts that fell just short of the uprights. Cornerback Peter McConville (Buffalo Grove, IL) filched the Tufts try for three just one play after batting down a pass in the endzone. And despite the Co-Captain's best efforts to prevent AmherstUs first scoreless half, a Rich Willard (Johnstown, NY) rush for goal was halted at the 4 as time expired in the first half and the teams entered the locker rooms gridlocked at 0-0.

The Jeffs opened up a dominating second half with a six-minute possession. Darin Byrne (Winchester, MA) notched his first of two touchdowns with a 1-yard run midway through the half for a 7-0 lead. Defensively, Amherst held the Jumbos to four minutes of offense and just five net yards in seven plays, courtesy of a Devin Moriarty (Springfield, MA) sack for a dozen stripes.

Tufts responded early in the final quarter with a five-minute drive. The Jumbos opted for a two-point conversion, but the option pitch left failed to reach the goal line as Amherst held onto a precarious 7-6 lead. But with 3:38 to play, Byrne bounced off the line of scrimmage and charged down the right side of the field for the game-winner. The junior leads the team with six TDs.

The trademark defense registered big plays for Amherst ball control until the final whistle. Co-Captain Seth Zimmerman (Lewistown, PA) nabbed a Jumbo pass for the Jeffs' 11th pick of the year, and David Nardolillo (Albany, NY) recovered a fumbled punt return in the closing moments as the Jeffs are one of only two undefeated teams in the NESCAC.


Saturday, October 25, 1997 at Medford, Massachusetts
Tufts (1-5)		0	0	0	6 -- 6
Amherst (6-0)		0	0	7	7 -- 14

Third Quarter
9:10	A Darin Byrne 1 run (Liam Fleming kick)
Fourth Quarter
9:22	T John Routhier 3 run (run failed)
3:23	A Byrne 49 run (Fleming kick)

			Amherst		Tufts
First Downs		18		8
Rushes-Yards		40-200		33-95
Passing Yards		194		89
Return Yards		58		70
Passes			34-19-1		17-8-1
Punts			4-112		7-226
Fumbles-Lost		1-1		2-1
Penalties-Yards		6-50		3-32

Rushing: A Darin Byrne 22-125, Bob DiSabato 13-54, Jeff Coviello 4-14, Rich Willard 1-7. T John Routhier 8-29, Tim Kaufman 12-26, Dan Morse 13-11.
Passing: A Willard 34-19-1 194 yards. T Morse 17-8-1 89 yards.
Receiving: A Colin Barnacle 5-42, DiSabato 5-15, Shaun Quigley 4-74, Todd Haggerty 4-57, Byrne 1-6. T Matt Godfrey 4-55, Jon Wilson 2-17, Jon Troy 1-9, Routhier 1-8.

Game Notes: Trinity (5-1) at Amherst (6-0)
Saturday, November 1, 1997 at Pratt Field, Amherst, Massachusetts

This marks the 93rd renewal of the Amherst-Trinity rivalry, started in 1886 with a 16-8 Amherst victory. Since then the Jeffs hold a 49-34-9 lead on the series, including last year's Battle of the Unbeatens between two 6-0 teams from which Amherst emerged victorious for the first time in seven years with a 24-7 win in Hartford, Connecticut.

This year's matchup will be a battle between two of the best defenses in the nation. As one of only two undefeated teams in the league, Amherst continues to lead the NESCAC by allowing just 187 net yards per game and a mere 37 points in six contests as the best scoring defense in the country. Trinity ranks close behind as the Bantams hold opponents to 202 yards a game and 64 points all season.

In recognition of these outstanding units, the NESCAC has bestowed Player of the Week distinction on seven student-athletes from the two institutions. Amherst's Jake Conca (Attleboro, MA), Todd Nichols (Skaneateles, NY) and Moriarty have all been named a Defensive Player of the Week, as have Brian Lahaie and Colin Lynch of Trinity. Bantam tight end Peter Hammond and cornerback Brian Daoust (Dover, MA) have been recognized as NESCAC Rookies of the Week. Byrne and Conca have also received ECAC Honor Roll distinction for their performances against Middlebury and Wesleyan, respectively.

Both teams also boast sound offenses that will test the strength of the opposing defense. Amherst tops the team categories in the NESCAC, scoring 175 points off 2,312 offensive yards off comparable run and pass possessions (1,080 rushing, 1,232 passing). Trinity rates among the most lethal ground games in the country, plowing out 225 yards a game. Bantam quarterback Joe Mullaney does it all, throwing six TD passes while running in half a dozen on his own as the team's third leading rusher.

Powering both ground games are the two best runners in the NESCAC. Bantam back Sherman Francis tops the league netting 88.5 stripes a game, while Amherst's Byrne pounds out 87.5 in each showing. Likewise, the rival quarterbacks are among the NESCAC best. Lord Jeff signal-caller Willard ranks second with a 132.3 efficiency rating, while Mullaney is fourth at 121.2.

Willard looks to make his second dent in the Amherst record books today as the quarterback is just 51 yards short of becoming the Jeffs' career best in passing yardage. Powered by 1,673 yards in his junior season, including a career-best 349 against the Bantams, the Co-Captain has completed 53.2% of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 3,745 yards to date. The English major will crack the 27-year old mark of 3,796 yards set in the 1969 season by John Kehoe '70. Willard already holds the record for most career attempts with 487 and 259 completions.

Amherst jumped out to its best start since the undefeated season of 1984 with the Jeffs' defeat of Trinity in 1996. Willard and Nichols registered career games as the pair produced the 1-2 punch of a lethal offense and an impenetrable defense. The quarterback tossed three unanswered touchdowns in his 349 yards, while the free safety was a key to holding the Bantam air attack to 8-for-22 passing and just 92 yards as he tallied his first three interception game in his career. Both players earned league recognition for their outstanding performances.

Trinity Head Coach Don Miller is currently the winningest Division III Coach in New England, a distinction he earned with his second win this season to surpass former mentor Jim Ostendarp, head coach of the Lord Jeffs from 1959-1991. Miller boasts a 172-69-5 record in his 31 years, while Amherst first-year Head Coach E.J. Mills is off to a 6-0 start.

Men's Soccer Splits a Pair of Matches

Men's soccer split their two matches this week as the Jeffs fall to No. 9 in New England after peaking at tops in the region. Starting to rebound out of their slump, the Jeffs posted a mid-week win over Babson as senior co-captain Tim Christian (Agawam, MA) tallied two scores in the second half. Fellow captain Mike Sullivan (Andover, MA) had tied the match just 36 seconds after halftime, and Christian lofted his fifth goal of the season over the keeper just 54 seconds later. Andy Kay (North Easton, MA), Matt Diggs (Seattle, WA) and Devin Talbott (Washington, DC) all registered assists against the Beavers as the trio catalyzed an aggressive offense that forced 13 corner kick opportunities.

However, travelling to Tufts, the Jeffs fell 2-0 to push their season record to 8-3-1.


No.	Name			G	A	P
11	Andrew Kay '00		7	2	16
7	Matthew Diggs '99	4	4	12
4	Timothy Christian '98	6	0	12
9	Devin Talbott '98	3	2	8
10	Gary Kegal '00		1	2	4
3	Nate McDonald '98	1	1	3
18	Mike Sullivan '98	1	1	3
5 	Brian Angelini '00E	0	2	2
12	Mike Grant '99		0	1	1
Amherst Totals			23	15	61
Opponent Totals			15	11	41

Goalkeeping		W	L	T	Min	Svs	GA	Sv%	GAA	ShO
Kevin Larner '99	8	3	1	1090	60	14	.831	1.24	3
Stephen Tornabene '01	0	2	0	20	3	1	.750	4.50	0
Amherst Totals		8	3	1	1110	72	15	.828	1.22	3
Opponent Totals		3	8	1	1110	72	23	.758	1.86	2

Current Record: 8-3-1
Last Week:	Babson, W 3-1
		  at Tufts, L 0-2
This Week:	Sun Nov 2 at Colby, 1:30pm

Women's Soccer Win 11th Straight

Amherst extended its win streak to 11 straight games as the Jeffs defeated NESCAC rival Tufts in a Homecoming spoiler. Senior Tri-Captain Ellie Hickerson (Davenport, IA) notched her first goal of the season to give the Jeffs an early 1-0 lead before the Jumbos tied the match in the 21st minute. Junior Katie Hersey (Westford, MA) netted the game-winner with 31:30 to play in the first half as she tapped a ball by the keeper amidst defensive confusion in the box. This is Hersey's third game-winning goal of the season and second straight after her overtime tally for the Little III title last week against Wesleyan. Keeper Sarah Fabian registered five saves as the NESCAC's leading goalie.


No.	Name			G	A	P
15	Kathryn Hersey '99	10	3	23
8/1	Katie Connelly '00	4	4	12
14	Ellie Hickerson '98	1	8	10
9	Shaunette Richards '98	3	1	7
4	Genny Furst '00		3	1	7
18	Erika Johnson '98	2	1	5
19	Kerry Weeks '98		1	3	5
11	Alexa Faigen '01	2	0	4
27	Laura Kochansky '98	2	0	4
24	Beth Leonard '98	1	2	4
3	Meg Riley '01		2	0	4
12	Janinne Noel '99	0	1	1
10	Jen Havlik '00	0	1	1
22	Lauren Eichler '01	0	1	1
Opponent Own Goals		1	0	2
Amherst Totals			32	26	90
Opponent Totals			8	7	23

Goalkeeping		W	L	T	Min	Svs	GA	Sv%	GAA	ShO
Sarah Fabian '98	12	1	0	1237	95	7	.931	0.51	6
Katie Connelly '00	0	0	0	23	3	1	.750	3.91	0
Amherst Totals		12	1	0	1260	98	8	.925	0.57	6
Amherst Totals		1	12	0	1260	147	33	.821	2.29	1

Current Record: 12-1
Last Week: at Tufts, W 2-1
This Week: Sat Nov 1 at Colby, 1:30pm

Field Hockey Falls to Jumbos

Amherst faced its third loss of the season as the Jeffs fell 1-0 in overtime to Tufts. Keeper Jes Rich (Stillwater, NY) made held off 21 Jumbo shots to push the match into sudden death, where a goal 12:24 into extra time handed Tufts the win. Amherst falls to 9-3 as they prepare to travel to Trinity, the top-ranked team in Western New England, on Thursday. Last year, the Jeffs upset the Bantams 1-0 in overtime at home.


No.	Name				G	A	P
2	Tyra Gettleman '00		8	1	17
12	Sandy Accordino '99		5	2	12
3	Gretchen Bowe '01		6	1	13
4	Irene Permut '99		3	4	10
11	Alie Stechenberg '00		4	1	9
24	Heather Kestner '98		3	2	8
22	Marnie Huffman-Green '99	1	2	4
20	Kristen Osborn '01		1	1	3
25	Risa Ravitz '00			1	0	2
9	Carline Kelly '01		0	1	1
10	Aleni Pappas '00		0	1	1
Amherst Totals				32	16	80
Opponent Totals				10	4	24

Goalkeeping	W	L	T	Min	Svs	PC	GA	Sv%	GAA	ShO
Jes Rich '99	9	3	0	877	45	61	10	.818	0.80	6
Amherst Totals	9	3	0	877	45	61	10	.818	0.80	6
Opponent Totals	3	9	0	877	150	160	32	.824	2.55	2

Current Record: 9-3
Last Week: at Tufts, L 0-1 OT
This Week: Sat Nov 1 at Colby, 2:00

Volleyball Reaches 20-Win Mark

Amherst pushed its record to 20-10 for the season as the Firedogs posted a 2-3 showing at the Hall of Fame Tournament at Mount Holyoke College. Pioneer Valley rival Smith avenged an earlier loss to Amherst with a 3-2 win of their own, including a nailbiting 15-13 fifth game for the victory. Gordon then inflicted a 1-3 loss upon Amherst before the Firedogs notched their third 3-0 sweep of Bowdoin this season. Taking care of host Mount Holyoke 3-1, Amherst rounded out the weekend with another five-gamer, lost to Brandeis 15-10 in the final game.


Current Record: 20-10
Last Week: Hall of Fame Tourney at Mount Holyoke, 9th place
		Smith, L 2-3 (15-12, 15-13, 4-15, 10-15, 13-15)
		Gordon, L 1-3 (16-14, 12-15, 14-16, 9-15)
		Bowdoin, W 3-0 (15-3, 15-10, 15-4)
		Mount Holyoke, W 3-1 (13-15, 15-2, 15-12, 15-13)
		Brandeis, L 2-3 (15-5, 2-15, 13-15, 15-13, 10-15)
This Week: Wed Oct 29 at Smith, 7:00pm
		Sat Nov 1 Little IIIs at Wesleyan

Women's Tennis Wins Third Straight New England Championship

Amherst rounded out its fall as the top team in the region and with its third straight New England Championship. Juniors Pam Diamond (Trumbull, CT) and Neely Steinberg (Concord, MA) claimed their third straight doubles championship and second singles title each. The team of Sally Childs (Rye, NY) and Sam Toerge (Potomac, MD) also emerged victorious from the third flight doubles draw, while rookie Carolyn Pastel (Old Lyme, CT) earned the crown at No. 6 singles.

	
Individual Records*	Singles		Doubles
Jamie Cohen '01		14-0		10-3
Pam Diamond '99		10-3		10-3			*does not include results
Neely Steinberg '99	12-1		10-3			 from New Englands
Patti Jo '01		6-4		1-3
Carolyn Pastel '01	7-2		9-2
Sally Childs '98	1-0		6-2

Final Fall Record: 9-0, New England Champions
Last Week: New Englands at Amherst, 1st place

Cross Country Claims Second at Little IIIs

Rob Mitchell (Worcester, VT) continues to dominate each race he runs as he has won five of six invitationals. After placing third among a pack of Division I runners at New Englands, the Co-Captain led the Jeffs to a 2nd place finish at the Little III Championships with his third course record of the season. Shaving 25 seconds off his former best, the junior handily breezed through the Amherst course in 25:31 at the trivalry meet. Five of the 55 men clocked times under Mitchell's former best, set at the beginning of the season at the Amherst Invitational. The men are currently ranked fourth in the region, 22nd in the nation.

The women continue to improve as their squad of 18 placed 7th among Division III schools at New Englands. They are ranked 9th in the region as they claimed a second-place finish in Little III competition at Amherst. Sophomore Dinelle Pineda (Oklahoma City, OK) led the Jeffs with a 6th place finish.

Last Week: Little III Championships: Men 2nd, Women 2nd
This Week: Sat Nov 1 NESCAC Championships at Bates

Golf Rounds out Fall Season

Men's golf finished second at the WNEC Invitational behind the 1-2 punch of Co-Captain Erik Hardenbergh (Wayland, MA) and Joe Graceffa (Augusta, ME). A week and a half later, the team placed 15th at the New England Championship and third out of Division III schools. Co-Captain David Fiorentino (Winchester, MA) led the team with a three-day total of 157. Cydny Stevens (Lee's Summit, MO) represented the women's team at the ECAC Championship, claiming a 30th place finish out of 87 golfers from Divisions I, II and III.


Last Week: 	Men at New Englands, 15th overall, 3rd Division III
		Women at ECACs, Stevens 30th place