Ephs 0-0 Against the #25 Continentals

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- The Williams College Ephs (4-1-8, 2-1-5 NESCAC) regular season home finale, against the Hamilton College Continentals (8-1-4, 4-1-4 NESCAC), resulted in a scoreless draw. 

It was Williams' eighth tie of the season, and Continentals' third in their past four contests (the other most recent result a 4-0 loss to Bowdoin that dropped them from #8 to #25 in the national Division III rankings). 

The unranked Ephs had the upper hand against Hamilton in the first half, having a goal disallowed for offsides in the 6th minute that robbed Felipe Gutierrez ('25) of a beautiful threaded assist.

The Ephs sought to beat yhe offside trap all game long and were ultimately unsuccessful; they were caught offside four times and had two goals waived off. Dan Rayhill ('24) came closest in the 18', forcing a great save on a toe poke.



The Continentals' started the second half stronger, and looked dominant until the 52nd minute, when freshman Aedan Burke swung at the back of Nick Boardman's ('23) head and was sent off with a straight red card. 

After the card, the Ephs were pretty perpetually on the attack, getting balls into the box and getting shots on target. Hamilton never laid down and died, though, even with just ten players. The Continentals always looked lively on the counter and forced Ben Diffley ('24) into some good saves.

Big Ben was kept busy, with six saves, but not as busy as Hamilton's keeper Ben Ziegler, who had eleven saves.

By the final 15 minutes, Williams' plan of attack had essentially boiled down to getting the ball to the wingers or wing backs out wide and sending cross after cross into the 18.

The Ephs came close but ultimately failed to score, and both teams walked away with a point. 

Eph head coach Steffen Siebert was upbeat after the game, saying he was "proud of the performance and how many chances we created against another national ranked opponent. Lots of positives to take into Saturday's game from today!"

The Ephs finish the regular season 2-1-4 at home in all competitions and will have two more games away, against Trinity this Saturday and at Middlebury on Tuesday, before the start of postseason play.