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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- Number one seed Williams College (16-0-0)
dominated fourth seeded Bowdoin College (12-4-1) in a 4-0 shutout
game to win the 2007 NESCAC Championship. It was a collective
effort by the Ephs, as four different players- Brianna Wolfson,
Clare Gallagher, Gabrielle Woodson, and Ana Sani- netted a goal
this afternoon on Cole Field. The championship is Williams'
first since 2004, and marks the first 16-0 start in program history
at the College.
"This team is amazing and it is such a joy to coach them,"
Williams head coach Michelyne Pinard said following the
victory. "I told the players before the game that it is such
a pleasure to coach them because they do not take any moment for
granted. They make the most of every practice, game and time
together and that makes this team something special."
The Polar Bears and Ephs faced off earlier during the regular
season on September 22 in Brunswick, Maine with the 1-0 result
coming in favor of Williams. Bowdoin kept Williams engaged in
a high pressure and closely matched game though, which is something
that very few teams have been able to accomplish against the
undefeated Ephs squad. In the opening minutes of play
this afternoon it looked as though a similar game would take place
once again. The Williams offense failed to create any
fluidity, and the team could not seem to follow their usual game
plan of keeping the ball grounded and finding feet in the open
passing lanes.
"Bowdoin is a great team, " said Pinard. "They force you to
look at space differently and we could not figure that out
initially."
Williams eventually settled into the game, delivering better
passes and creating more opportunities to score. Senior
captain Ana Sani started off the Ephs' four goal outing at the 9:07
mark. Gabrielle Woodson, who finished the game with two
assists and one goal, crossed the ball to Sani who was completely
unmarked on the far left post. Once Sani received the cross
she had plenty of time to settle the ball and nail a hard shot in
the far right corner of the net. Brianna Wolfson rounded out
the two goal first period at the 24:48 mark after chipping in a
rebound off the Polar Bears keeper.
The Ephs defense proved relentless from the first whistle, and
Bowdoin managed only one shot in the opening forty-five minutes
that came with seven minutes left in the first half. The
shots taken by each team today differed considerably when compared
to their first match up. In September Bowdoin managed to
outshoot the Ephs 12-9, while today Williams knocked off a
staggering 28 shots compared to three shots by the Polar Bears.
Williams continued to expand their lead in the second half and out
of their eighteen shots in the second half, thirteen were shot in
the penalty box. At the 69:52 mark, Sarah Walmsley received a
throw in from Sara Wild that sailed over her defender's head and
right in front of Walmsley's feet. An undefended Walmsley
crossed the ball to the far post, where Clare Gallagher- also
undefended- easily found the back of the net for a wide open
goal. Woodson iced the victory after a breakaway goal with
less than four minutes left in regulation.
With the win, Williams receives an automatic berth to the 2007
NCAA tournament. The bracket will be announced on Monday,
November 5.
