Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA—After impressively holding Middlebury College (9-1) to a tied first half, Williams College (6-3) allowed three goals in the second half of play.
Middlebury outshot Williams 16-2. Their ability to keep the ball in the circle granted them with multiple scoring opportunities—whereas Williams could not convert their possessions into shots on goal. Coach Alix Barrale acknowledged this saying that "we played a great first half, but I don't think we were doing things properly offensively."
Expecting the best from their formidable opponent, the Ephs knew there could be no let up. The Panthers maintained general control from the start of they game, but persistence from Williams' defensive end prevented any truly opportune opportunities.
Sophomore Katie Gallop and senior co-captain Annie Rojas were defensive standouts for the Ephs. Sophomore Kit Rosen denied substantial Panthers' attempts to send the ball long to Bridget Instrum. Her ability to convert the defensive stops into clears to her forwards provided the Ephs with some offensive momentum.
However, Barrale mentioned this defensive-mindedness as ultimately backfiring. It was not until the final minutes of the game that the Ephs really put pressure on the defense. "We played so well those last six-minutes when we knew we had to become threatening on offense," she said. "Now I know we have that in us and that is the mental part of the game that we need to work on."
The closest opportunity for Williams came in the twentieth minute of the half. After an attempted clear by the Panthers, Katie Gallop ran it down and sent in a powerful cross, as she was still running back to her defensive end. It went directly to sophomore Rachel Brissette, who was posted up in the center. Goalkeeper Emily Knapp came from the opposite side of the net to deter junior Annie VanWagenen from securing a goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Margaret Draper was a consistent force grounding the defense. She made a total of eight saves to help out her endlessly working defense.
Middlebury came out with a surge of energy greater than that in the first half. In the first five minutes alone, they had four shots. "We completely held up our strategy until that first goal at the start of the second half," noted Barrale.
Instrum in particular put the pressure on the Ephs' defense. At 26:53 she earned a corner for Middlebury. After so many attempts in regular play, Middlebury finally converted a goal. Alyssa DiMaio inserted the ball to Shannon Hutteman at the top of the circle. Hutteman struck it solidly to the backboards, not allowing any reaction time for Williams defense.
Able to build up offensive momentum, Middlebury soon put in a second goal. Another clutch save by Draper, after a cross from outside resulted in corner. Inserting it from the same side as their first goal, the pass went to the top of the circle. This time, Fowler sent it down low to Instrum, who slid it inside past Draper.
Now down by two goals, Williams stepped up their intensity. Ball possession was more balanced, as a result, but the Ephs were still unable to convert into any shots. However, Bararle wanted to see this sense of urgency throughout the entirety of the game. "We played so well those last six-minutes when we knew we had to become threatening on offense," she said. "Now I know we have that in us and that is the mental part of the game that we need to work on."
With 6:32 left in the half, the Panthers put in a third goal. With a foul just outside the circle, Middlebury sent a cross immediately into the circle. After a deflection off Draper, Anna Kenyon finessed it into the corner.
Barrale and her team plan to employ the defensive effort from the first half of play and the offensive confidence in the last six minutes in this Saturday's home game against Wesleyan at 1:30 PM.
