Boxscore
AMHERST, MASS. - Goalie Stephen Vrla stopped 14
shots to keep Williams men's lacrosse in the game against
Amherst, but the Ephs ultimately could not defeat the Jeffs, losing
7-5 to fall to 4-5 on the season and 3-3 in the NESCAC. Amherst
scored three goals in the final 6:01 of the game to claim the
victory, moving to 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in the conference.
With their 3-3 NESCAC records, The Ephs and Jeffs are two of five
teams that are tied for third in the conference.
The game was a battle all over the field, as the Jeffs outshot
the Ephs 35-29, while the Ephs won 10 of 16 faceoffs and picked up
42 ground balls to the Jeffs' 40. The teams found themselves
tied at every score from 0-0 to 5-5.
Williams opened the game's scoring when Sam Hargrove
scored his 10th goal of the season without an assist after curling
around the crease and pushing the ball past Jeff goalie Sam Jakimo.
Amherst was able to respond with two goals before the end of the
period, the first coming from Jeff Izzo off a rebound with 2:15 to
play in the quarter and the second coming from Cole Cherney on an
unassisted effort with :58 seconds remaining, and the teams ended
the first with Amherst up 2-1.
The second quarter saw the Ephs respond due to an impressive
scoring display from Richard Reuter. Reuter tied up the game 3:48
into the period, ripping the ball past Jakimo off a pass from
Hargrove on a man-up oppportunity. He then scored again, this time
with 5:02 to play in the period, firing a shot into the underside
of the crossbar that crossed the goal line to give Williams its
second lead of the game 3-2. Dan Routh was able to score for the
Jeffs with 2:03 to play, retying the game at 3-3, a score that held
for the rest of the half.
Amherst outshot the Ephs 16-12 in the first half, but Vrla was
stellar, holding off 7 of the 10 that found the frame.
The second half saw the game remain tight. Williams was held
scoreless in the third period, while Amherst found a way behind
Vrla on 1 of its 5 shots on goal, as Evan Redwood scored an
unassisted goal with 6:52 remaining in the period.
The Ephs' were un-intimidated by the Jeffs' 4-3 lead
heading into the fourth, and the team was able to retake the lead
with 6:55 remaining in the period. With 7:46 to play and the Ephs a
man up, Michael Grover scored the team's first fourth-period
goal off a pass from Tim Goggins; Mike Ryan then followed up
Grover's goal with his team-leading 11th of the season only
51 seconds later to give the Ephs a 5-4 lead. However, Amherst
wouldn't allow Williams to walk away with the victory, as
Jeff Izzo assisted two Tim McDonnell goals and Evan Redwood scored
his second goal of the game to take the game for the Jeffs 7-5.
Corey Jacobs won all 10 face-offs for the Ephs, while he and
Vrla picked up 6 ground balls to lead the team. Bryan Wrapp and
David Fitzpatrick were second on the team with 5 ground balls each.
Williams must now prepare to take on Union on the road next
Wednesday at 7 p.m. The team will then face-off with Wesleyan at
home next weekend at 1 p.m.
Check back later for more on the game.
