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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Williams College men's
soccer team used three second half scores to get past Tufts and the
rain 3-1 Saturday at Cole Field. The victory improves the Ephs --
who entered play ranked #3 in New England and #18 nationally by
NSCAA -- to 11-1-1 (6-1-1 NESCAC). This game also marks the seventh
time they have scored at least three scores in a game including the
last three straight. The Jumbos fall to 2-9-2 (0-7-1 NESCAC).
The inclement weather played a decisive role for large chunks of
the match as the heavy rain and waterlogged field curtailed a high
level of play. This suited Tufts, who used the weather element to
dull the potency of the Eph attack and take an early lead.
However, the Ephs managed to control the game nonetheless.
Williams out shot the visitors 31 to 5 and earned 10 corner kicks
to 1 for the Jumbos.
“I'm very pleased with the kids effort today,” remaked
Eph head coach Mike Russo. “We got off to kind of a slow
start, but we were able to take control in the second half with
constant pressure and it paid off.”
Tufts got on the board in the 19th minute with their lone shot on
goal of the game. The score came off of a collaboration with the
weather, as a routine popup slipped through the rain soaked gloves
of Eph goal keeper Than Finan and Tufts' Kevn Maxham was
there to capitilize giving the Jumbos a 1-0 lead.
The Ephs looked to be traveling down a path that has become
somewhat of a recurring subplot of the season: Williams dominates
possession and controls the pace of the game while creating many
goal scoring opportunities, but simply cannot finish.
However, those fears were squashed in the 65th minute, as the Ephs
finally broke through on a hook up between Gaston Kelly and Pierre
Meloty-Kapella. After Kelly saved a loose ball off of the Jumbo
endline he turned and curled a beautiful bending pass straight to
the foot of Meloty-Kapella who one-timed it home to tie the game at
1-1.
Just 47 seconds later the Ephs would strike again, this time Colin
Ainsworth found Charles Romero who knocked it past Jumbo keeper Pat
Tonally (10 saves) to make it 2-1 Williams.
The Ephs weren't done and would add an additional insurance
score six minutes later when Romero sent a one touch heel pass
through the defense to a streaking Nick Pugliese who promptly
converted finalizing the score at 3-1.
The Ephs will look to close out the regular season with their
fourth straight victory when they hit the road on Firday to face
NESCAC foe Middlebury. Kick off is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
