WILLIAMSTOWN, MA: Williams (0-1) lost their first game of the season 13-12 to Colby (1-0). The Ephs and Mules met twice last season, going 1-1 against each other. Colby won last year's season opener, but Williams their second meeting 9-4 in the NESCAC Championship. Williams and Colby have played each other 35 times since 1995. Williams leads the all-time series 28-7.
Williams went down early, giving up a goal with 22:49 on the clock. Williams' Stephanie Gallo'14 tied up the game with her first career goal on a free position shot at 18:53. Building off of Gallo's momentum, junior attacker Katie Ellis scored her first goal of the game 18 seconds later.
Williams Head Coach Chris Mason said "As a freshman, Steph really got some flow going, and built some good offense. Katie works so hard in the midfield. It really helps us."
Colby tied the game and later took the lead with four unanswered goals, including one where Williams goalie Julia Schreiber'11 made the initial save, but the Colby attacker snuck in the rebound.
Mason said "Defensively we did pretty well, but we're still sorting some things out."
Margie Fulton'12 and Sam Weinstein'13, last year's second-leading and leading points leaders, respectively, combined to put Williams back on the board with 5:33 remaining in the half.
Williams and Colby continued battle, with the Ephs chasing the Mules, but never quite catching them. Colby and Williams traded goals, including a second goals by both Gallo and Ellis. Williams closed the half down 7-5.
Colby won the draw to start the second half, but Williams' defense shut down the attack and then executed a textbook break-out to send the ball back to Colby's defensive end. A series of Colby fouls and great offensive movement led to the first goal of the half. Katie Pettengill'13 received the ball while cutting, shot cross-body, and slipped the ball over the goalies' right shoulder. Pettengill's goal brought the game within one, but the Mules restored the two-goal lead a few minutes later, making the game 8-6 with 23:02 left in the game.
"Offensively, we need to take care of the ball better, and we need to play with better poise. We have the skills, and we showed good things. We can work with this. Overall we did a good job," said Mason.
Following a slash by Colby's Casey Thomas, Williams netted two goals, once again closing Colby's lead. The first goal was scored by midfielder Meera Sivalingam'12 on a clear drive to the net. Weinstein scored her first goal of the game seconds later, flicking a ground ball over the stick of the waiting goalie. The game was tied 8-8 with a little over 20 minutes remaining.
Speed through the midfield, followed by a free-position shot, gave Ellis her third goal of the game, giving the Ephs the lead at 18:54. Colby tied the game, but a timely goal by Weinstein helped Williams regain the lead. Williams continued to gain momentum with Ellis' fourth, and final, goal moments later. Unfortunately,a free position shot for the Mules brought the score within one. The Ephs led 11-10 with 13:25 remaining.
A pair of Colby goals made the game 12-11 in the Mules favor with 9:23 left to go. A little over three minutes later, Weinstein struck again. Receiving the ball outside the 12, she carried the ball in, executing a spin move to beat the flat-footed Mule and sending the ball soaring over the goalie's shoulder. Colby returned fire a few seconds later, once again reclaiming the lead. The Ephs continued to battle, generating some serious scoring chances. With 5:25 remaining, Williams as never able to reclaim the lead. The final score was 13-12 in Colby's favor.
Schreiber made faced 28 shots, and made 15 saves. Says Mason of Schreiber "Schreiber had some fantastic saves for us. Colby has some very good shooters and she really played well."
Overall, Mason was pleased with how her team played: "It was a good first game, no one likes to lose, but the team's attitude and intensity were all good. Everyone worked hard, and we were working well together as a team."
Williams will take on MIT at home on March 15. The game begins at 6:30pm.
