Box Score GRANTHAM, PA – In the first round of the national NCAA Division III postseason tournament, the Williams College Ephs (7-1-10) defeated the New York University Violets (9-5-3) 2-1 after overtime.
Much was made, before the game, of Williams' ten draws going into today's contest which, if Ben Diffley is correct, ties (because of course) an NCAA record for most ties in a season. All year long they have hardly conceded goals, but also struggled, at times, to put the ball away themselves, especially after the mid-season injury to two-time NESCAC First Teamer Will Fellito.
Right at the game's outset, a dynamic between the two teams was established. NYU would try to possess the ball, and work it around, and the tireless Ephs would allow them no peace, rest, or relaxation, as they hedged and harried incessantly, and looked to strike back on the counter at a moment's notice, relying on long, aerial passes, driven up the field, to advance the ball.
The contrast between NESCAC and UAA styles of play was pretty stark, as the Ephs' size, strength, and aggression really denied the Violets any sort of rhythm. The Ephs' freneticism firmly gave them the upper hand, but the Violets were not without their chances, and it took the Ephs until the 44' to get their goal.
New York native Marshall Miller ('24) whipped in one of those dangerous long throw-ins from the left sideline, Nick Boardman ('23) flicked it on, in the air, to the back post, and Henry Kirkman ('26) met the second ball with his head, powering it past the keeper, and putting the Ephs in pole position.
After the break, the Ephs maintained their work rate, and the Violets continued to try and chip away at them, having more success in possession but not creating any especially clear-cut chances.
The Ephs, who had not been scored on from open play in either of their previous postseason matchups, continued the trend, and kept their clean sheet until the 78', when a penalty was awarded in favor of the Violets and Sam Gibson was given a yellow card.
NYU number 10 Said Talal converted to make it 1-1, taking his penalty confidently, putting the ball down the middle but sending Diffley to the left. Once again, regulation ended even and we went to overtime.
Three minutes into the first additional period, from another restart, this time a free-kick from the right side, the Ephs scored again, in similar fashion to the first. The ball was whipped in and flicked up, via an Eph's head, to the far post. NYU goalkeeper Luca Mancuso raced to snatch the ball from the air, but the ferocious, goal-hungry Henry Kirkman, already on the score sheet, was not to be denied. He sprinted and leaped with menace and intent, beat the keeper to the spot, headed the ball into the back of the net, and restored the Ephs' advantage.
The Ephs looked to maintain possession and run out the clock from that point forward, and strong Nathan Song ('23) looked impossible to dispossess at times, but NYU were able to carve out a few dangerous chances.
In the 108' NYU's Arkan Tahsildaroglu, beating one man, drifting past another, and cutting past a third before finding the space to get a shot on target from close range. Big Ben Diffley, a proud member of the All-NESCAC second team, made the most timely of his nine-saves, getting low to parry the ball away. The ball fell back to the Violets, but the ensuing effort flashed just over the bar. Diffley, some will say, may have had it covered anyway.
Said coach Seibert, ecstatic after the victory: "Unbelievable performance from two great teams tonight! Extremely excited to move forward in the NCAA tournament! Two amazing performances by Henry Kirkman and Ben Diffley to help us advance."
The Ephs hold on and keep dancing, and advance to the second round, where they will face the home team Messiah University Falcons, who defeated Franciscan 4-1.
