Game action video; Tyler Rainer postgame
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- After a scoreless first half, the women's soccer team beat Middlebury with three goals in the final 45 minutes. Today's game was the final game of the regular season for both teams. It was also the Ephs' senior day. All nine seniors – Anne Marie Burke, Elizabeth Danhakl, Kara Duggan, Annie Neil, Tyler Rainer, Jacqueline Russo, Julia Schreiber, Annelise Snyder, and Sara Wild – participated in today's contest. Said Coach Pinard after the game, "Ending [their regular season careers] with a win down on Cole means the world to these seniors. It's a cherished place. We played with conviction and the belief that we're the best team, and it was nice to see them put it together. The senior class in general had a great day; all of them played incredibly."
The first half proved to be a battle. In the opening five minutes, Brett Eisenhart had two of the Ephs' three shots of the half. The Middlebury attack was led by freshman Scarlett Kirk. She recorded five of Middlebury's six shots of the half including a beautiful header that was saved by Schreiber. The save was the only of the game for Schreiber.
With just over 8:30 to play in the half, Chelsea Davies and Annie Rowell collided. Both were forced to leave the game, and neither returned.
After a 0-0 first half, both teams came into the second half playing very aggressively. In the 48th minute, Wild took a corner kick from the left side. Caitlyn Clark redirected the kick and the ball snuck into the net just over goalie Lauryn Torch's head and just under the crossbar for the first goal of the game. It was Clark's second goal of the season.
Just under eight minutes later, the Ephs finished again. Bridget Gallagher crossed the ball from the right side through Torch's hands to Wild, who finished in the lower left corner. Wild is tied with Eisenhart as the team leader for points this season with 17. After the game, Coach Pinard commented on Wild's performance today: "When she takes advantage of her athleticism, she's incredibly dangerous, and she showed that in the second half."
The Ephs found the back of the net for the third time with just under 26 minutes to play. Wild passed the ball from inside out wide to Rainer, who was near the left sideline. Rainer hooked the ball into the far right corner of the net for the Ephs' final goal of the game.
With just over two minutes to play, it looked like the Panthers might score a goal of their own when Kirk crossed the ball from the left side. Williams attempted to clear the ball out, but Middlebury got the ball back to Hannah Newman in the middle of the box. Finally, the Ephs managed to clear the ball.
In the second half, the Ephs recorded 10 shots; Middlebury had one. Torch had four of her five saves on the day in the half. Eph goalie Laura Wann, who came in for Schreiber in the second half, had no saves. Middlebury's only corner kick of the game came in the second half. Williams had eight corners on the day.
Following the game, Williams moved to 9-3-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the NESCAC on the year; they finished third in the league. Middlebury finished fifth in the league with a regular season record of 7-4-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the league. The Ephs will host Wesleyan on Sunday in their first playoff game. Looking towards the NESCAC tournament, Coach Pinard said, "We know that we need to win from here on out and take it one game at a time. We're excited to be on Cole. We're excited to get one more game." The game will take place at 12:30.
NESCAC Women's Soccer Final Standings (Points/Record)
Tufts (20/6-1-2)
Amherst (17/5-2-2) *
Williams (17/5-2-2) *
Trinity (14/4-3-2) ^
Middlebury (14/4-3-2) ^
Wesleyan (13/3-2-4)
Bowdoin (10/3-5-1)
Bates (7/2-6-1)
Connecticut College (6/1-5-3)
Colby (6/1-5-3)
TIEBREAKERS
· * Amherst and Williams finished with the same number of points. In head to head competition, Amherst defeated Williams to earn the No. 2 seed.
· ^ Trinity and Middlebury finished with the same number of points. In head to head competition, Trinity defeated Middlebury to earn the 4 seed.
2010 WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, October 31 at Higher Seeds
Quarterfinal Games
No. 8 Bates at No. 1 Tufts – 12:30 pm
No. 7 Bowdoin at No. 2 Amherst – 12:30 pm
No. 6 Wesleyan at No. 3 Williams – 12:30 pm
No. 5 Middlebury at No. 4 Trinity – 12:30 pm
Saturday, November 6 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 7
Final – 12:00 pm
Semifinal winners
