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Williamstown, MA – The Williams men's soccer team (2-0)
broke open an otherwise tight game with two second half goals in
four minutes to push past conference foe Connecticut College (1-2)
today in their home oepner. The win marked the second consecutive
conference victory for the Ephs.
The Camels came to play in the first half, with their offense
controlling possession and creating multiple scoring chances, while
their defense relegated the Eph offense to the occasional deep ball
and only a few real scoring opportunities. Eph Sophomore keeper
Andrew Graham scuttled several of the Camel offense's early
promising attacks and continued the aggressive style that earned
him NESCAC player of the week honors last week.
The Ephs weathered the storm however, and seemed poised to strike
first after a yellow card incurring hard tackle in the box by Camel
defenseman Joe Budkiewicz granted the Ephs a penalty kick in the
thirty ninth minute. However, Senior Ryan Pelletier's shot was
stopped by Camel keeper Ted Lane in an acrobatic diving effort. The
missed opportunity seemed to be a catalyst for the Ephs who went on
to dominate possession for the rest of the half.
The Ephs carried that momentum into the second half with senior
forward Kit Fuderich's shot narrowly blocked by another athletic
save in the forty sixth minute by Lane. However, Junior midfielder
Sam Empson made sure his shot would find net by firing a laser from
twenty yards that rendered the Camel keeper helpless in the sixty
fourth minute. The Ephs continued to play at a high level, passing
through and around the Camel defense culminating in a sensational
header goal by junior Jay Ingraim off of a cross from fellow Junior
Nathan Elwood in the sixty eighth minute.
The Camels never gave up and continued to play hard and physical,
creating several scoring opportunities against an Eph defense that
was playing a man down after senior captain Will Ford was served a
red card in the eighty third minute. However, the Eph defense held
tough and assured the win. "Connecticut College was better than
they have been in the past and are definitley going to win some
games," Eph head coach Mike Russo remarked. "I was pleasantly
surprised with how we responded in the second half to their
pressure, especially since we were going into the wind."
The Ephs won't be celebrating the victory long however as they
play their first nonconference opponent of the season on the road
at Wheaton College tomorrow in Norton, Massachusetts.
