Williamstown, Mass. - #13 Trinity (6-0, 2-0) shut out #7 Williams (5-2, 1-2), 1-0. The scene on Williamson Field was unfamiliar to the home crowd as the Ephs couldn't celebrate on home turf for the first time this season.
In the first half, Williams led the shots battle 5-3. Much of this was due to the outstanding midfield play of Siobhan Morrissey, Jacqui Sandor, and Emily Batchelor. The Ephs tried to get the Bantams' defense caught off balance with its 7 corners as opposed to Trinity's 1, but Elle Fair and Emma Cropper provided a solid foundation, preventing the Ephs from scoring. The difference was that sole corner by Trinity, forced by Jackie Frank. Consequently, the Bantams scored off of a point-blank goal from Ashley Zigler at the 20:04 mark. Her first career goal proved to be the only one for either side in the game.
To start the second half, Caelin Flaherty raced to the Ephs side and had a one-on-one opportunity to send the Bantams up by 2 goals.
Gates Tenerowicz made an excellent save on the right side of the net. On the other end, Liz Welch opened the period firing, forcing another corner that the Ephs couldn't capitalize on.
Molly Hellman also got in on the action, batting down aerial passes and maintaining control. Coach
Alix Barrale said she was "pleased with... our overall performance with controlling the game, with keeping possession." Isabella Deveney, Flaherty, and Fair of Trinity were challenged all day, but withstood the test. Flaherty made one of the Bantams' best defensive plays with 1:50 left in the third quarter. After ceding a corner, she read the inbound pass perfectly and sent it out of the offensive zone. Olivia McMichael was the Bantams' goalie in the second half, saving 2 shots – one by Welch and the other by
Catherine Torres.
Shea van den Broek was held quiet, being defended by the combination of Deveney and Fair. She had one opportunity late in the third quarter, but couldn't quite control it, sending it wide right. It was a similar story for Lauren McCarey and the rest of Williams' team, as Trinity stayed in front of the ball handler exceptionally well, then closing out and attempting deflections once they found the Ephs in tough positions. With 11:44 left in the game, Welch sent a shot that sailed out of play, followed by a collective sigh by the home fans. Reflecting after the game, she said, "I think they capitalized when we didn't capitalize." A prime example of that was the last corner for the Ephs. It came with 1:12 left, resulting in Welch sending a shot towards the goal that Trinity interrupted. Barrale and Welch both emphasized that they created opportunities and felt in rhythm, but couldn't finish in those critical moments. In total, Williams held a 9-4 advantage in shots and a 12-1 advantage in corners.
Williams will look to bounce back as they travel to Montclair State University on Sunday, September 26th, at 2:00 PM. Trinity faces Wesleyan at 6:00 PM on September 28th for its first of three in a row on the road.
