Box
Score
MIDDLEBURY, Vermont - The Williams College men's soccer team's
season came to end Saturday after falling to the top-seeded
Middlebury Panthers 1-0 in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament.
The loss marks the second time in as many weeks the Ephs have
fallen to the Panthers in a 1-0 decision, and settles their final
record at 8-6-2 (4-4-1 NESCAC) for the 2008 campaign. Middlebury
(13-1-2) advances to face Amherst, who defeated Trinity 1-0, in the
NESCAC finals.
The Ephs recorded deficits in shots (Williams: 8, Middlebury:12)
and corners (Williams: 2, Middlebury: 5), but battled the Panthers
to the wire in the loss. Eph keeper Andrew Graham (5 saves) and the
Eph defense turned in a quality performance, but a perfectly placed
corner kick from Baer Fisher in the 36th minute proved to be the
difference maker as it connected seamlessly with the head of Brooks
Farrar and into the net for the game winner.
The Ephs were not without their chances. Right before half,
Williams nearly responded but a heads-up play by a Panther defender
in the midst of a scrum in the box cleared the ball and sent
Middlebury into the half up one. The Ephs again almost erased the
Middlebury advantage in the 59th minute, but Sam Empson's shot was
just barely off target.
Williams did receive a bit of luck in the 77th minute, when
Farrar's attempt to take advantage of an out of position Graham and
earn his second score of the game proved not to be as it sailed
wide of the open net.
However, the Middlebury defense held true and earned their team
the right to continue to the NESCAC finals and shot at an NCAA
Conference birth.
The Ephs graduate eight seniors in Daniel Curbelo-Zeidman, Sam
Denton-Schnider, Brian Dolezal, Sam Empson, Peter Gordon, Chris
Gocksch, Jay Ingram, and Alex Kramer. Empson and Gordon were one
and two in points recorded for the Ephs in the 2008 season, with 20
and 14 respectively.
