BOXSCORE
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA––Williams women's lacrosse
(12-3) had its season ended today by Babson College (14-3).
Today's NESCAC-NEWAC showdown was Williams' fifth
overall NCAA post-season appearance, and their second in a row;
Babson has appeared in the first round of NCAAs for the fourth time
in a row. The 18th ranked Beavers entered the game having won their
previous six games, while the number 14 Ephs are 4-2 in recent
play. Margie Fulton and Whitney Thayer led the Eph offense and
junior goalkeeper Julia Schreiber made eight saves.
Head Coach Chris Mason said “All the games in the NCAAs
are tough, but we knew it would be a tough game. Compared to other
teams in the tournament, our record wasn't that great, so we
knew we'd have a hard first-round game.”
Sophomore Fulton, assisted by classmate Katie Ellis, got the
game going, scoring two goals in a row before Babson midfielder
Jamie Spang was able to make the game 2-1. Until Spang's
goal, the Ephs had gone 46:42 without giving up a goal. Williams
junior Anne Marie Burke quickly responded to Spang's goal,
scoring her sixth goal of the season with 14:42 left in the half.
The Ephs were able to maintain their two-goal lead until 5:26 when
Beaver Alyssa Hood scored. Mason said “We weren't
really getting enough out of our opportunities. Babson has a very
strong goalkeeper, and she was definitely on her game
tonight.” The score at halftime was 3-2 in the Eph's
favor.
Hood scored again in the first minute of the second half, tying
the game at 3-3. Senior co-captain Thayer cut across the front of
the net to reclaim the lead, scoring off a pass from Ellis.
Williams' lead was short lived, with Hood scoring her third
goal of the game to once again tie the game. Thayer wasn't
done yet, though. After a short period of settled ball control, the
Eph captain struck again, only to have her first shot blocked by
Beaver goalie Sarah Macary. Unfazed, Thayer caught her own rebound
in the air, and stuffed it behind the now out-of-position Macary.
The Ephs' maintained their 5-4 lead for two minutes, before
giving up three goals in a row, including one scored off a nice
give-and-go play. Mason felt that the team “was trying too
hard, rushing things and not placing [their] shots.”
Down two goals with 11:17 left to play, senior Tracey Ferriter
attempted to get the Ephs back on track. After picking up the ball
on the defensive side of the midfield line, Ferriter beat her
defender, then out ran the rest of the Babson low-defense to score
a breakaway goal on Macary. “Tracey showed good
determination, winning the ball and beating the defense,”
said Mason. Now a one-goal game, the two teams battled for ball
possession, and the victory. In the remaining 11 minutes, the Ephs
had some good offensive chances, but rushed the shots, and were
unable to score. Beaver freshman Taylor Kralovenec solidified
the win, scoring the final goal of the game with 3:32 left to play.
The final score was 8-6 against Williams. Mason concluded that the
game was a “hard one,” and that Williams “did not
have enough draw controls” and that “we did not take
advantage of our chances. In tight games, every opportunity is so
important.”
Williams graduates seven seniors, including captains Thayer and
Quinn Brueggemann, as well as forwards Whitney Kelly and Tina
Nawrocki, midfielders Tracey Ferriter and Alice Nelson, and low
defender Amy Siedlecki. Mason said “I think this senior class
did a fantastic job setting the tone for how we play. They're
all hard workers and smart players and they did a great job leading
the team.”
This season was an historic one for the Ephs; they won their
first NESCAC title, won their first Little Three title and defeated
rival Amherst, both for the first time in ten years.
“I'm very proud of how the team did this year,”
said Mason “Given how were were playing in the beginning and
middle of the season, I really wasn't expecting to be
here. The team really improved throughout the season, and worked
hard. They had a 'never give up' attitude, and worked
well together to achieve what we did.”
Williams returns eighteen players, including points leaders
Fulton, Ellis, and freshman Sam Weinstein. Starting goalie
Schreiber will also return to lead the Eph defense. Mason concluded
on a positive note: “It was a great year. It's tough to
go really far in the NCAAs, and regardless of today's loss, I
think we had a great season.”
