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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. – Coming off highly physical and intense
on-field battles from last weekend, Williams (9-0-0, 5-0) played to
a comparatively relaxed win over visiting conference opponent and
Little Three rival, Wesleyan (6-2-1, 2-2-1). Sara Wild led
the Ephs offensive attack with one goal and an assist in the 3-0
victory that increased Williams winning streak to nine games.
The Ephs dominated time on the ball, managed to out shoot Wesleyan
27-6, and scored their first two goals within the first twenty
minutes of play. Nevertheless, their chances at goal were not
as solidly executed, or as abundant, when compared to other games
this season.
"Wesleyan is a very organized team," commented Williams head coach
Michelyne Pinard. "They keep numbers behind the ball and took
away offensive options from us that we are used to having."
Williams's patience payed off in the end. Bret Eisenhart fed
the ball to Sara Wild on the wing. A speedy Wild easily beat
her defender to the ball, headed in alone on goal, and tapped a
ground shot to the far post for a 1-0 lead. Just minutes
later, at the 18:59 mark, Wild took a corner kick. Clare
Gallagher found the ball in a crowd on the near post for the
score.
It appeared as though the Cardinal defense would keep Williams off
the scoreboard in the second period, but Tyler Rainer broke the
second-half shutout with just 1:30 on the clock. Annelise
Snyder nailed the right post with a line-drive shot, and Rainer
collected the rebound. With Wesleyan's goalie veering left in
attempt to save Snyder's shot, Rainer laced the ball to the middle
of the open net for the final 3-0 margin.
Despite any offensive woes, the Williams defense shut down any
Wesleyan ball movement and allowed only 6 shots for the entire
ninety minutes. The Cardinals did not get off a shot until
the thirty-eighth minute of play.
"Our backs do a great job game in and game out," continued
Pinard. "They do an amazing job of keeping our shape, and
putting pressure on the ball. Especially Kara [Duggan, center
back], who keeps us so organized throughout the whole
game.
Williams will continue NESCAC action next Saturday at Tufts at
12:00 p.m.
