Box Score
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Mike
Ryan Photos (password ephlax)
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass - The Williams College men's lacrosse team
jumped out to a five goal lead in only the games first 7:16 and
cruised to 13-4 victory over previously unbeaten Keene State
Tuesday evening. The Ephs recorded their highest point total
of the season, while simultaneously holding the Owls, who had
scored 19, 17, 18, and 14 goals respectively over their previous
four games, to just four scores in the win.
The Eph attack was led by David Hawley's five goals to push his
team leading goal mark for the season to an impressive 27, and
Michael Vrla's two goals and two assists. While Eph goalie Michael
Gerbush anchored the defense with 13 saves - including eight in the
2nd period alone.
The early Williams surge was catalyzed by the stellar faceoff
work of Corey Jacobs who won six of the first seven and fourteen
total in the contest, but it was Hawley who kicked things off for
the Ephs, scoring only eight seconds in before recording three of
the games first five goals, as the Ephs built an sturdy five goal
lead after the first period.
Keene State pushed back hard in the second period, forcing play
into the Williams half and outshooting the Ephs 12 to 5. However,
Gerbush's stonewall performance turned away the Owl's advances and
the Ephs nonetheless overcame the shot deficit and extended their
advantage with Vrla's second goal of the contest only 3:52 into the
period.
After the intermission, the two teams traded goals in the first
1:10 of the third quarter, but it was all Ephs for the rest of the
stanza as Hawley, Richard Reuter, and Dixon Hargrove would each
pour in a goal to extend the lead to 10-1 after three quarters.
Each team would record three goals in the final quarter, with
the exclamation point on the Ephs scoring coming with only 1:56
left in the game when Reuter found a wide open Michael Grover who
knocked it through an empty net to finalize the score at 13-4.
Looking to rebound following last weekend's setback at Amherst ,
the Ephs couldn't have asked for more as they lead the highly
touted Owls in every important statistical category including shots
(Williams 41, Keene State 34), ground balls (Williams 37, Keene
State 19), face-offs (Williams 14, Keene State 6), and saves
(Williams 13, Keene State 12).
"I'm very proud of our performance; we pushed the ball and
brought pressure." Remarked Eph coach George McCormack. "It's
great to come out and rebound, especially against such a quality
opponent."
The Ephs have a a very important conference matchup against
conference foe Trinity, Saturday. The game is a practical must win
for the Ephs who are looking to improve on last year's appearance
in the NESCAC semifinals. The game will be played in
Williamstown starting at 1:00 PM.
