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AMHERST, Mass - The Williams College men's soccer team jumped
out to a one goal lead over archrival Amherst College, only to
surrender two unanswered scores and fall 2-1 to the Lord Jeffs in a
crucial conference matchup Saturday.
The Ephs have now recorded a pair of losses and ties over the
last four games and have only won two of their last seven contests,
as they drop to 7-4-2 (4-3-1 NESCAC). Amherst took a big step
towards a first round bye in the conference tournament, as they
improve to 8-3-1 (4-3-1 NESCAC).
The match marks the second consecutive defeat for the Ephs at
the hands of their archrival -- a trend that is in stark contrast
with the two teams one-sided history wherein, prior to the last two
seasons, the Lord Jeffs had defeated the Ephs just two times in
twenty-five years.
The Ephs found themselves under heavy pressure from the games
opening moments, as Amherst used the emotions of senior day to fuel
their early intensity. However, the Ephs nonetheless took the early
advantage after an attempt to block a Pierre Meloty-Kapella shots
by an Amherst defender resulted in an own goal in the
12th minute.
The Ephs good fortune would soon visit the Lord Jeffs as well,
as they recorded an own goal with just 1:10 remaining in the half.
Besides erasing the Ephs advantage and knotting the two teams at
one score apiece, the late tally reinjected Amherst with the
momentum and intensity it seemed to have lost following the Ephs
goal.
They carried that style into the early parts of the second half
and it proved productive, as the Lord Jeffs would score just 11:41
in off of a Jae Heo rocket that blew past Eph keeper Andrew Graham
(3 saves).
The remainder of the game would have a decidedly Williams bend,
as the Ephs took control of possession and forced play into the
Amherst end. Unfortunately for the Ephs, despite several scoring
chances, they were unable to even things back up and snap their
slide.
The Ephs will try to right the ship next Friday, October
31st, in a very important conference matchup against
Middlebury. That game is scheduled for a 2:30 kickoff.
