BABSON PARK, MA - Williams men's soccer fell to Babson today 1-0. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Williams outshooting Babson 13-12 and neither team creating a large number of opportunities. The Ephs fell to 4-2-1 on the season, while the Beavers improved to 8-2-1.
Williams was without co-captain center-back Matt Ratajczak '13 for the third straight game due to a concussion he sustained last weekend. The team was also missing center-back Doug Weinrib '13 and striker Dan Morrisroe '12 due to injury.
The first half of the game proved uneventful; both teams traded bouts of possession, though neither was able to generate many opportunities. The Beavers outshot the Ephs 7-5 on the half, though they were only able to force Morrell to make two saves. The best opportunity of the half came on a long throw from the Beavers that fell at Morrell's feet midway through the half, but the Ephs were able to clear the ball away.
The second half looked much like the first until the 67th minute, when Babson broke the deadlock. Beaver Bryan Rust played a long ball from the left side of the box. Teammate Eric Anderson beat his marker to the ball and connected on a header toward the right post. Morrell was unable to get a hand to the ball, and the Beavers went up 1-0.
Williams pressed Babson the rest of the way; it appeared as though the Ephs might draw even on a header from Matt Kastner '14 in the 80th minute, but the ball hit the post. The Beavers' defense held strong through the rest of the half, allowing the home team to walk away with the win.
"[We] thought we played well," Assistant Coach Jeff Huffman said. "We had a lot of first years play a lot - I think Michael Madding ['15] played more minutes today than he had all year. Especially for the first years they can take something away from this, playing against an NCAA-tournament caliber team."
"We gotta hope we get our guys healthy and we'll be at full strength against a very very strong Amherst squad next Sunday," he added.
Williams takes on its rival next Sunday at 11 a.m. on Cole Field.
