Box Score Medford, Mass. --The Williams men's soccer team (1-1-0/0-1 NESCAC) kicked off NESCAC play against the Tufts Jumbos (2-0/1-0 NESCAC) and the Ephs were defeated in a hard fought 1-0 game. Tufts scored the game-deciding goal at 49:55 from a cross off the foot of senior Mati Cano. The Jumbos played a good delivery into the box and the ball fell to the back post to fellow senior Ian Daly who volleyed the ball past Eph goalkeeper
Michael Davis from 8 yards out.
The first half was a back and forth affair. Eph forwards
Eli Petrik and
Nathan Song set the tone in the first five minutes of play as they made dangerous runs in behind and pressed the Jumbos back line. The Ephs did a terrific job of winning aerial duels and limited Tufts' play through the midfield (to create 5 shots). Will Fellito commanded the Eph backline and made several crucial blocks throughout the game
.
At 30:54, the Ephs threatened off a set piece.
Henry Osborn whipped the ball from the left flank towards the back post which was narrowly headed wide by
Nick Boardman.
The Jumbos had numerous long throws and corner kicks throughout the second half, but
Michael Davis made important saves to prevent Williams from going down any further. Davis finished the game with five saves, four of them coming in the second half.
"I was very proud of every player who went on the field today," said Eph head coach
Steffen Siebert. "Everyone worked extremely hard against the number one team in the country. Lots of great moments to show the guys on Monday to build on and we keep our heads up high after that performance and move onto the next match."
Up next for the Ephs' is a non-conference contest at Skidmore College at 7 p.m. on September 14th in Saratoga Springs, NY. Skidmore is off to a hot start as the Thoroughbreds are 3-0.
