Box Score
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Williams College men's
lacrosse team stormed out to an 8-2 lead in their regular season
finale Friday, before surrendering 11 second half scores to NESCAC
leader Middlebury and falling 13-11.
Williams was on a six game winning streak before the set back, and
drop to 7-6 overall, 5-4 in conference play. However, the Ephs
earned a birth in the NESCAC playoffs, and will play in the opening
round this Sunday against at Wesleyan beginning at 1 p.m.
The second-ranked Panthers (12-1, 8-1) have won 11 straight
games and will host Amherst in a Quarterfinal NESCAC playoff game
on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The Ephs managed just 27 shots to the Panthers 51, but 15 saves --
including 10 in the first half -- by Williams goal tender Michael
Gerbush helped keep it close. David Hawley found the back of the
net four times for Williams and Mike Ryan contributed a pair of
goals and assists to pace the Eph offense.
Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Hawley
and Michael Aclerno. Middlebury's Skyler Hopkins got one back
with 7:25 left before Hawley tacked on his second for a 3-1 lead
after one quarter.
Williams face-off specialist Corey Jacobs continued to perform at
a high level, winning 8-10 opportunites in the first half, allowing
the Ephs to build a 6-2 halftime lead. Sam Hargrove's
underhand shot at 3:38 capped the scoring in the second set up by
teammate Mike Ryan. Ryan was involved in the first two goals in the
third, getting his second assist at 13:15 on a goal by Matt
Crenshaw and scoring his second tally at 12:40, for an 8-2 Williams
lead.
Middlebury's comeback started with a three-goal burst,
highlighted by consecutive goals by Tom Petty 13 seconds apart
including his second at 11:43. Mike Stone added his second goal of
the game before the Ephs responded with Hawley's third tally
and a 9-5 Williams advantage at 7:31.
The Panthers continued to attack, pouring in five more goals in
6:41 of action, with Mike Stone's laser from 10 yards out
capping the impressive comeback, giving Middlebury their first lead
at 10-9 with 15 seconds left in the third.
The Panther lead was short-lived as Jacobs won the ensuing
face-off and scampered in for the 10-10 equalizer with 10 seconds
left in the quarter. Williams regained the lead 11-10 at 10:29 in
the fourth when Hawley, grabbing a groundball in transition, scored
his fourth goal of the game.
But that would be the last time the Ephs had the lead, as
Middlebury closed out the game with three consecutive scores to put
it away at 13-11.
