Box
Score
TROY, N.Y. - The sixth-ranked Williams College men's soccer team
used a Charles Romero score midway through the first half to propel
them past 13th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1-0 in NCAA
Tournament Second Round play at Renwyck Field.
With the win, the Ephs improve to 16-2-1 overall and advance to
the field of 16 next week. The Engineers conclude their season with
a 14-3-2 mark.
Romero, who notched his second goal in as many days for
Williams, redirected a low cross from the left, by classmate Gaston
Kelly, just inside the far post for the eventual game-winner goal,
five ticks into the 19th minute of play.
The tally came moments after the Ephs' Pierre Meloty-Kapella was
stopped on a partial breakaway, in which Rensselaer junior
goaltender Alex Penny (5 saves) came sliding out to make the save.
Williams took a 10-7 shots advantage into halftime, and finished
with a 17-13 edge.
Romero nearly gave Williams an insurance goal in the 55th
minute, but Penny was equal to the task, coming out to make a
point-blank save.
Engineers' midfielder Sean Fleury recorded one of the team's
best first half chances, when he his shot from the left flank went
inches wide of the far post. In the 40th minute, senior Kevin Swift
rose up to head a corner service from classmate Michael Long , but
his shot was right at Ephs' senior goalie Andrew Graham (3 saves).
In the 87th minute, Romero again had an opportunity to the
cushion the Ephs lead, when he got in behind the Engineers'
defense, but his shot found the left post and RPI was able to clear
the area.
Earning the final of its seven corners on the day in the final
minute, Rensselaer had a pair of tries inside a congested penalty
area, but the Williams defense held and delivered the 1-0 victory.
The Ephs have now appeared 15 times in the NCAA tournament since
1993, boasting a 28-11-6 record.
Williams' will next face York (PA) in a game will take place on
November 21 at a site to be determined. The York Spartans have a
17-1-4 record. The other two teams in the Eph Sectional are
Christopher Newport (VA) and Stevens Insititute (NJ).
York advanced with a 2-0 win over Amherst, while Christopher
Newport downed Lynchburg in a shootout. Stevens Institute defeated
Montclair State 4-0 to earn a berth in the Sectionals.