Box Score
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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. – It was not the best
90 minutes of play that
women's soccer has put together this season, but it was
enough for the Ephs to close out the regular season unbeaten for
the second consecutive year.
Williams (13-0-1, 8-0-1) used an early goal to
defeat conference opponent Middlebury (7-4-2, 6-3-0), 1-0, and send
their six seniors—Clare Gallagher, Caitlin Colesanti, Brit
Spackman, Gabrielle Woodson, Hannah Ratcliffe, and Lauren
Garcia—out with a victory on Senior Day, 1-0.
Jacqueline Russo fought for a long ball in
front of the goal box, and aimed a perfectly placed header to
teammate Sara Wild.
The Eph sophomore flicked the ball to a charging Wild on her left,
who ripped a shot too hard for the Middlebury goalie too
handle.
The goal at the 5:13 mark would be the only
offen
se of the contest. Although the Ephs rattled
off 10 shots in the first half, a 15-4 shooting advantage did not
translate to further goals.
“We [Williams] started strong, but
Middlebury is an organized team,” said Ephs head coach
Michelyne Pinard.
“They are a tough team to get behind, and that showed
today. The emotions
of the seniors' last regular season game showed a
bit. We had moments of brilliance, but not
ninety minutes of it.”
The Panther's goalkeeper Lauryn Torch
recorded 8 saves, while being tested considerably by a formidable
Williams front. Ephs
keeper Lauren Sinnenberg, while only recording 1 save on the
afternoon, displayed incredible composure in the minutes of play
where the rest of the team lagged a bit.
The Ephs will begin post-season play on Sunday
when they host Colby in the first round
of the NESCAC tournament. Williams will play as
the #1 seed. Game time is set for 12:30 on Cole Field.
One might assume it to be pressure-laden
post-season for the #1 ranked team in the nation, but Pinard
believes differently.
“There is pressure in the post-season
regardless, because you win or go home” continued
Pinard. “There
is another level of urgency to every game.”
