Boxscore
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Playing in the snow in the NESCAC quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Williams men's soccer scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to come back from a 1-0 deficit and defeat fifth-seeded Tufts 2-1. The Ephs had controlled the majority of the play, outshooting Tufts 30-10 overall, but faced a huge challenge breaking through a stellar Jumbo defense led by goalkeeper Alan Bernstein '12, who had 10 saves on the game.
"It was an exhilarating victory," Mike Russo, head coach of the Ephs, said. "I thought the whole team was fantastic. I have to praise everybody. I thought it was a total team effort today."
Williams dominated the first 25 minutes of the match, outshooting Tufts 8-2 and creating a string of exceptional opportunities, including three 1 v. 1s for User Kushaina '14 with Bernstein. However, Kushaina put each of his opportunities wide, and Bernstein also made several excellent saves on other chances for the Ephs. Williams' best opportunity came off a shot from Patrick Ebobisse '13 from the top right of the box. Bernstein made a save going to his right, and Dan Lima '14 was there to get a foot on the rebound. Bernstein deflected Lima's shot, but the ball made its way toward the net and nearly crossed the line after hitting the post. However, two Tufts defenders were there to clear the ball off the line, keeping the teams tied 0-0.
Tufts, unfazed by Williams' attack, broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Kento Nakamura '15 hit a corner kick from the left side to the near post; the ball deflected off of an Eph head to the backside of the six, where John Lewis '13 was waiting. Lewis headed the ball back across to center back Peter Lee Kramer '15, who hit a towering header into the back of the net past stranded Williams keeper Than Finan '13. Prior to allowing the goal, Finan had earned four straight shutouts.
Following Tufts' goal, the game became more balanced, with equal bouts of possession going both ways, and Tufts entered the break with the 1-0 lead.
"Usually at half time I am upset, but today I said to them just keep doing what you're doing," Russo said. "We were very confident we could win the way were playing."
Russo turned out to be right. The Ephs renewed their pressure at the start of the second half, creating a string of opportunities in the early going. The best chance of the opening minutes of the half came in the 50th minute off of a corner kick from Ebobisse. Lima made a darting run through the box and headed the ball powerfully toward Bernstein's net from the center of the six-yard box. Bernstein, on his line, made an incredible reflex save, flying into the top right of the goal and tipping the ball over the bar to preserve the Jumbos' lead.
As the half progressed, Williams continued to generate pressure, threatening the Bernstein's net almost continuously. In the 81st minute, the Ephs finally managed to sneak one past the Tufts Keeper. Phil Vestergaard '12 took a low driven free kick from just inside midfield on the right flank. Vestergaard's ball found Kushaina with his back to goal at the top right of the box, and Kushaina touched the ball behind himself to his left with his right foot, taking him deeper into the right side of the box. He then turned, took a touch, and fired a spinning bullet of a shot toward the near post; the ball snuck under Bernstein and into the net, knotting the game at 1-1.
Williams did not have to wait long to score again. In the 83rd minute, Peter Christman '13 earned a corner kick off of a blocked shot. Christman took the corner from the left side, curling it deep to the back post. Bernstein came off of his line, but could only get a hand on the ball, and it fell inside the six. Doug Weinrib '13, a typical starter for the Ephs forced to the bench due to sickness who entered the game when the Ephs were searching for a goal, was in the right place at the right time. He darted into the six and knocked the ball into the net for the game's decisive goal.
Doug Weinrib, who has been sick, came off the bench and we were delighted he was able to score," Russo said. "I take my hat off to him."
Tufts looked as though is might push the game to overtime in the 84th minute, when Maxime Hoppenot '15 was in clean through on Finan on a break away. Finan came off his line and made himself big, allowing him to stop Hoppenot's shot and preserve the Eph lead. Williams played to the corners throughout the rest of the game, and walked off the field with the 2-1 victory.
"I thought our boys showed a lot of character, hanging in there and then coming back," Russo said. "For the first time in a long time against a good team, we had [30] shots. Our statistician, Dave Fehr, said that in the old days we always used get 35; more recently, it has only been six or eight. Today was tremendously positive in that regard.
"[Bernstein] was very, very good," Russo added. "He made a couple excellent saves."
Finan finished the match with six saves. The match was relatively clean, with only 13 fouls in total between the two teams.
Williams will now take on Trinity in the NESCAC semifinals, to be hosted by Amherst next Saturday. Tufts will await word as to whether or not they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Please note: The snow created technical difficulties, preventing two shots taken by the Ephs from being recorded in the official boxscore.
