WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- Today's game between No. 8
Williams and No. 25 Amherst was just as exciting as people
anticipated. Going into today, the two rivals were 14-14-7 against
each other since 1978. Amherst now has the upper hand in that time
span after leaving Cole Field with the 1-0 win. In what
turned into a very physical game, scoring opportunities and
attempts were many for both teams, but only Amherst freshman Amanda
Brisco was able to find the back of the net.
The first half saw multiple opportunities for both teams.
Early on, Amherst's Jackie Hirsch had a good look at the goal off
of a free kick, but Williams goalie Julia Schreiber
came up with the big save. It was one of her five saves on
the day. A short while later – at the ten-minute mark
– Brisco had a breakaway that looked like it might result in
the game's first goal until Williams defender Chelsea Davies
took the ball away. The Jeffs had five other looks at the goal in
the half. The Ephs brought pressure offensively as well.
With 12 shots in the first 45 minutes, Williams had many chances
that looked like they might be good. Perhaps their best
opportunity of the half came with just over 20 minutes to play when
Sachi
Siegelman booted a ball into the box off a free kick.
With Williams unable to get a head on it, Amherst goalie Allie
Horwitz quickly scooped up the ball and cleared it out. Brett
Eisenhart led the attack in the first half with five
shots. She went on to finish with seven shots on the day.
Williams coach Michelyne Pinard said that the first 12 shots
were not just shots but "goal-scoring opportunities. [We]
could've put away the game in the first 15-20 minutes which is
essential against teams like [Amherst]. It would've been a
different 90 minutes."
Going into halftime, the Jeffs had eight fouls to the Ephs'
four. The second half would prove just as physical.Both teams
entered the half with the same offensive mindset they showed in the
first. Determined to score, the shot opportunities were once
again many: Amherst had six shots in the second half and Williams
had 11. Right at the start, Williams forward Bridget
Gallagher took the ball up the right side and crossed it, only
to have Horwitz come up with the ball.
Following Gallagher's fiery start, both teams had many
opportunities, but no one was able to finish until Amherst's big
break with 26:18 left to play. Kathryn Nathan passed the ball
to Emily Little, who then crossed the ball from the left side of
the net. Brisco headed the ball into the right corner for the
only goal of the game.
Williams' best look at evening the score came with just over
seven minutes to play. Brett Eisenhart, Annelise Snyder,
and Sara Wild
set up for a free kick. Eisenhart and Snyder both faked, and
Wild booted the ball at the net. The shot, however, was
high. It looked like the Ephs might have a last-second
miracle when – with about 12 seconds to play – they
forced a corner. Brisco came up with another big play, though, when
she stopped the Ephs from getting the ball into the box by blocking
it with her body. Amherst ran on the field in celebration
once the final seconds had dwindled.
Today's game was a first for the members of the Williams
team. This year's senior class had never lost a NESCAC
regular season or tournament game. Until today, the Ephs' nine
seniors were 36-0-2 against NESCAC opponents in their Williams
careers. Coach Pinard described the undefeated streak and the
last three years as a "bit of a dreamland." Today's loss though,
she said "can't be the end; it needs to be the new beginning.
[We] need to refocus and move forward. We played great. Sometimes,
it is hard to see good when you don't get the result, but there are
a lot of good things happening."
Today's game moves Williams to 5-2-1 and Amherst to 4-2-2 on
the year.
