Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – In an out-of-conference matchup, the Williams College field hockey team fell to Skidmore College by a score of 5-2.
The first few minutes of the game were very back and forth as play remained mostly in the middle third of the field. However, Skidmore would take control to keep the ball in Williams' defensive end for a prolonged period. Drawing a series of corners, Skidmore would keep up the offensive pressure while Williams fought to keep them out. Eph goalie, Ariana Spiliotes would make a kick save to break up a Skidmore penalty corner, and would follow that up with another save only minutes later.
Williams would not be able to withstand Skidmore's offensive pressure for much longer, however, as Skidmore scored at the 17:12 mark. Dribbling the ball into the right side of the net, Skidmore crossed the ball for a shot. Spiliotes would make the first save, but Skdmore's Kelly Blackhurst would score off of the rebound. Skidmore would continue dominating offensively, despite a run by Williams that culminated in a shot by Emily Jablonski. However, at the 28:13 mark, Blackhurst would finish again, scoring off of another scrum in the arc. Both teams would play hard for the remainder of the half, pushing to goal and drawing penalty corners, but the score would remain at 2-0 in Skidmore's favor
Williams started off the second half in control, but Skidmore would quickly battle back to extend their lead to 3-0. At the 39:00 mark, Blackhurst would score her third goal of the game off of a drive that Williams couldn't quite clear. Skidmore would keep control, and Blackhurst would score her fourth goal of the game soon after with a shot high into the net. With the score at 4-0 in Skidmore's favor,
Williams saw themselves at a great disadvantage when they received a green card five minutes later. However, despite their man-down disadvantage, Williams would persevere and score their first goal to bring their deficit to three. Abby Belcrest would score off of a shot from the middle of the arc. Williams continued to drive to goal, and their efforts would culminate in a successful penalty corner at the 52:45 mark. Caitlin Conlon would push the ball to teammate Annie VanWagenen for shot, only to tip VanWagenen's rebound into the net moments later. With the score at 4-2, the Ephs continued to push offensively thanks to a new momentum.
Regaining control, Skidmore would turn away a series of penalty corners for Williams to push the ball back into the Ephs' defensive end. With six minutes left, Skidmore would score again, this time thanks to a goal by Dani DeGregory off of a penalty corner. Despite their offensive success earlier in the half, Williams could not come back in time, and the game ended at 5-2 in Skidmore's favor. "I'm disappointed with how we played in the first half; we didn't show up to play for a game where we were competing with a top-ranked team," said coach Alix Barrale. "We improved in the second half, and I'm hoping we can find that fire in our next game this weekend."
Spiliotes would finish the game with eight saves while Skidmore goalie, Haley McDougall would finish with seven.
The Ephs next take on Tufts at home this Saturday.
