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MIDDLEBURY, VT. –
With a 1-0 defeat of NESCAC opponent Middlebury (10-2-2, 7-2-0)
this afternoon, Williams women's soccer (14-0-0, 9-0-0)
closed out a perfect regular season with 14 wins and zero losses in
their 2009 campaign.
Sarah Walmsley scored at the 87:41 mark to put the Ephs ahead by
one, and preserve their unblemished
record.
Middlebury came into today's contest
with a 7-1 conference record that placed the Panthers just two
spots below Williams in the NESCAC standings, and the Ephs knew it
would be a tough battle against the third-ranked team in New
England. What they didn't expect was to go
toe-to-toe for 90 minutes, challenged every single step of the way.
“They [Middlebury] are the best team we
have seen,” said Williams' head coach Michelyne Pinard.
"They were unbelievable today, and did such a good job on the
ball. It really forced us to defend more than
we're used to, and when we had hold of the ball we
didn't take care of it like we like to as well.”
The Panthers dominated time on the ball for
the first half, and much of the second half. It
is a credit to the Ephs defense that the home squad couldn't
find the back of the net, despite out shooting Williams, 15-5.
It marked the first game this season that the Ephs were out
shot by their opponents.
Despite not playing their best soccer, the
top-ranked team in the nation was able to stave off the
opposition. With the clock winding
down, Annelise Snyder found Walmsley streaking down the
field on her right, and chipped her the ball.
; Walmsley collected, and nailed a shot to the far corner
for the goal.
“It is unbelievable what this team has
been able to do,” continue Pinard.
“They are games where we're scoring early, we're
scoring late, and scoring often. This team is
just amazing in the sense that they can just get it done.”
Ephs keeper Lauren Sinnenberg played her first
full game of the season, recording 7 saves in 90 minutes of play.
The Ephs have posted a 42-0-1 regular season
record since October 21, 2006. This is the third
consecutive season in which women's soccer has played without
a loss, and the first regular season without a loss or tie since
2007.
Williams will host a first round game of the
NESCAC tournament against Colby this Sunday at Cole Field at 12:00
p.m.
“We're excited to get going again
so soon, and catch our rhythm again,” said
Pinard.
Listed below are the final standings for
NESCAC Women's Soccer as well as tiebreak explanations and first
round match-ups. All first round women's soccer games will be
played on Sunday, November 1. Game time is 12:00 pm.
NESCAC Women's Soccer Final Standings (Record/Win
Percentage)
Williams (9-0-0/1.000)
Amherst (7-1-1/.833)
Middlebury (7-2-0/.778)
Tufts (4-4-1/.500) *
Trinity (3-3-3/.500) *
Bowdoin (4-5-0/.444) ^
Wesleyan (4-5-0/.444) ^
Colby (2-6-1/.278)
Bates (2-7-0/.222)
Connecticut College (0-9-0/.000)
TIEBREAKERS
* Tufts and Trinity finished with identical conference win
percentages of .500. The teams tied in head-to-head
competition. Tufts has more conference wins and earns the No.
4 seed.
^ Bowdoin and Wesleyan finished with identical conference win
percentages of .444. Bowdoin defeated Wesleyan in
head-to-head competition to earn the No. 6 seed.
2009 WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, November 1 at Higher Seeds
Quarterfinal Games
No. 8 Colby at No. 1 Williams – 12:00 pm
No. 7 Wesleyan at No. 2 Amherst – 12:00 pm
No. 6 Bowdoin at No. 3 Middlebury – 12:00 pm
No. 5 Trinity at No. 4 Tufts – 12:00 pm
Saturday, November 7 at Highest Remaining
Seed
Semifinals – games at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Highest remaining seed vs. lowest remaining seed
Remaining first round winners
Sunday, November 8
Final – 12:00 pm
Semifinal winners
