Boxscore
MIDDLEBURY, VT - Williams men's soccer tied Middlebury today 0-0 on the road. The Ephs were led by its backline and goalkeeper Than Finan '13, who held the Panther attack at bay with seven saves on the match.
The Ephs finished the regular season with an 8-3-3 record overall and a 5-2-3 record in the NESCAC, while the Panthers ended the year 7-3-4 overall and 3-3-4 in the conference. Williams finished as the No. 4 seed in the conference with 18 points, while Middlebury finished seventh with 13.
Williams started the game with several starters out of the lineup due to injury, and were further hampered when Peter Christman '13 was injured less than five minutes into the match. Middlebury was completely dominant in the early going, outshooting Williams 7-0 in the first 19 minutes of the match and creating several dangerous opportunities off of set pieces.
The Ephs appeared to settle down over the next 10 minutes before the Panthers again asserted control of the match. They looked particularly threatening in the 35th minute, when a free kick from the right side just in front of midfield was knocked around the Eph box; a Panther got a head on it at the top left of the six, and Finan made an excellent collapse-dive save to his left to keep the score 0-0. Middlebury outshot Williams 11-1 overall on the half, but the Eph backline and Finan, with four saves, were able to ensure that the Panthers did not score.
"In the first half, Middlebury was very, very good," Mike Russo, head coach of the Ephs, said. "They controlled the rythm of the game and created many opportunities. Fortunately we were strong in the back and in goal."
Williams improved its play vastly in the second 45 minutes, battling the Panthers effectively all over the field. The Ephs held the Panthers to four shots, and the attack proved far more effective, creating four shots and several other opportunities off crosses from the left flank. Finan was still called on to make several sterling plays in the half, though, picking up three saves and controlling his box on crosses. The Panthers were particularly threatening as the half drew to a close, forcing Finan to make two saves in the 89th and 90th minute, but neither team was able to score, and the teams went into overtime.
The Ephs had their best opportunity of the match only two minutes into overtime on a ball played over the top to User Kushaina '14; Kushaina beat his defender and was one-on-one in the middle of the box with Middlebury keeper Tim Cahill, but Cahill came off his line and got in front of the ball before Kushaina could fire a shot, and the Panthers escaped unscathed. Williams continued to threaten over the top in the two overtimes, while Middlebury attacked effectively, earning four corner kicks and taking four shots over the two periods, but neither team broke through. The teams walked off the field with a 0-0 draw.
"In the second half and overtime we created more opportunities," Russo said. "I'm never pleased with a draw, but coming up here midweek, it was a well played game - Middlebury is a very good team. I really take my hat off to the backline, and Than Finan had a great game today."
"With [all the injuries], we patched together a team today and showed a lot of character," Russo added.
Middlebury finished the game with a 19-6 advantage on shots. Cahill finished with three saves.
Williams will now prepare to take on No. 5 seed Tufts on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Cole Field. The Ephs will be looking to pay back a 2-0 defeat to the Jumbos from earlier in the season. Middlebury will hit the road take on No. 2 seed Wesleyan at 12:30 p.m.
