Box
Score
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Williams College men's soccer team forced
overtime with under ten minutes remaining in regulation before
completing the comeback win with an OT goal from Joe Vella to
defeat NESCAC foe Bowdoin Saturday. The game-winning goal came 7:56
into the overtime on a free kick just outside the box, when Vella
launched a bending shot that cleared the wall only to land just
short of the goal line and skip into the net to give the Ephs the
win.
The victory gives the 20th-ranked Ephs a 10-1-1 mark (5-1-1
NESCAC) while the Polar Bears fall to 7-3-1 (3-3-1 NESCAC) with the
defeat.
The Williams offense again held a sizeable advantage in shots
(Williams: 19, Bowdoin: 9) and corners (Williams: 8, Bowdoin; 3) as
Gaston Kelly's goal and assist spearheaded the effort. Tim Prior
contributed a goal and assist to pace the Polar Bear attack and Dan
Hicks made 5 saves in the net for Bowdoin.
"It was a great game against a very difficult team. They are
extremely well coached and play a direct style that gives teams a
lot of problems." Remarked Eph coach Mike Russo, "Fortunately, we
were able to stick it out and take control in the second half to
get the win."
It took a Charles Romero goal with less than ten minutes
remaining to force overtime, as Williams trailed the host Polar
Bears following an against the run of play score by Prior at the 68
minute mark.
Romero's score came after Russo was forced to change tact. With
the clock ticking away and the Ephs down a score, the Eph head
coach transferred defender Conner Smith into the front of the
attack. The move paid dividends as Conner Smith would have a hand
in funneling the ball to Romero on his game extending strike.
The game was deadlocked at one at halftime thanks to first-half
tallies by Williams' Gaston Kelly and Bowdoin's Hunter Clark.
Following a failed Williams penalty kick, Kelly stole a ball in the
box in the 11th minute and ripped a shot to the top-right corner.
Clark evened the score twenty minutes later when Prior collected a
rebound off the crossbar and fed it to his teammate who knocked it
past Eph goal keeper Than Finan (1 save).
The Ephs will look to make it three straight wins when they host
NESCAC foe Tufts next Saturday, October 24th. That game
is scheduled for a 12:00 PM kick off.
