CLERMONT, FL - Led by four goals from Emily Jablonski and three goals from Sam Weinstein, Williams women's lacrosse picked up its second straight win this morning, edging out Union 13-11 in Florida. Williams improved to 3-2 on the season, while Union fell to 0-3.
"I thought everyone played a pretty solid game. Sam and Emily did a nice job planning their shots on goal and getting nice shots off. We didn't always take a chance to aim, and they did a really good job of making sure they did. Sam got a migraine headache during the game and had to come out, and when she came in, she just kept competing. It was really impressive. Emily hunias such great stick handling and ball control that she can get into tight spaces and make plays and get out if she has to."
Rebecca McGovern and Kaitlin Ellis figured heavily in the Eph attack as well. McGovern finished the game with two goals and an assist, while Ellis scored twice and chipped in two assists.
Goalie Ali Piltch finished the game with seven saves, with six coming in the second half.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Williams got on the board first when McGovern scored on a solo-effort 1:13 into the game, but the Dutchwomen were able to bounce back, quickly taking the lead with two goals in the following two minutes. Williams bounced back with two goals from Jablonski in quick succession, first with 24:31 to play in the half off a feed from McGovern, then 34 seconds later on a pass from Ellis.
Union soon retook the lead again, outscoring Williams 5-1 between the 20:38 mark and the 4:29 mark to go up 7-4. However, the Ephs fought back, scoring three goals in the final 4:12 before the break behind the stellar offensive play of Lilly Wellenbach, who scored a goal and chipped in an assist in the half's closing minutes.
The teams continued to trade blows at the start of the second half. Union opened the scoring with a goal 4:58 into the half, but Jablonski again took command for Williams, scoring consecutive unassisted goals in the next 33 seconds to give Williams a 9-8 lead. Union again responded with a pair of goals of its own at the 22:13 and 21:13 marks, going up 10-9.
It took almost five minutes for Williams to retie the game on a beautiful solo effort from Weinstein, who sliced through Union's defense and scored with ease with 16:39 to play. Two goals from Ellis, first with 15:23 to play, then with 9:25 to play, gave the Ephs a lead they would not give back. Although Union scored again with 7:40 remaining, the Eph defense held firm the rest of the game, and Weinstein capped the scoring with 5:50 remaining off a pass from Ellis to give Williams the 13-11 win.
"I was happy with how we played," Mason said. "We played pretty well, maybe not our best, but a pretty good game. Union was very aggressive and quick and a good team. I am happy with the win. It never felt like we had a let down, but there were some points where it felt like we got a little rattled. It was a combination of Union pressuring us but it was also a little bit of a chaotic game because it was so competitive and every possession was so important. With that kind of chaos we got rattled a couple of times, and we need to be able to tune that out and focus on the play. I thought we came around and did that better and finished the game strong."
"I was pretty happy with our defensive performance," Mason added. "Union had some really quick, agile athletes, and we did a good job staying with them ... We didn't always move our feet, but we were good at correcting the next time down. I was impressed with Ali, because even though she didn't make the first few saves, she didn't let that get her down, and she got stronger and stronger as the game went on, and made some really good saves in crunch time. [The defense also] did a much better job handling the ball and moving it up and out and into the offensive end."
Williams now prepares to wrap up its trip to Florida on Conn. College on Friday at 12 p.m.
"We're really happy with the two wins [on the trip] so far," Mason said, "but we absolutely need to get this win on Friday, being a conference opponent. We're really looking forward to the game."
