CAMBRIDGE, MA – Williams College (11-4-3) played an intense game with both overtimes and a round of penalty kicks necessary to overcome Massachusetts Institute of Technology (15-15-3) in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
In an all-effort out game, 11
th ranked Williams and 16
th ranked MIT finished regulation time and both OTs without a goal, but not without worthy attempts. Both teams made their first PK, but Williams pulled through to make their last two alongside senior goalie
Leyla Kamshad's last three pivotal saves. Kamshad guessed the correct direction for every one of MIT's kicks and prevented the last of their attempts to continue the game and their season. With spectacular shots from senior
Maria Chapman and junior
Jaquelin Nordhoff to give Williams the advantage, the Ephs move on in the NCAA tournament.
The regulation time consisted of energetic and skillful back and forth possession. MIT struck first in the 2
nd minute, sending a strike that Kamshad jumped to deflect off the top crossbar and out of play. Williams quickly retaliated with a shot by first-year
Kelly Beal that was kicked out by MIT goalie Lauren Castle.
A handball by the Ephs gave MIT a free kick just outside of the 18yd box that Kamshad dove and pinned between her and the post to prevent the goal. Junior midfielder
Jaquelin Nordhoff played a well-controlled game and took ten corner kicks between regulation and overtime. Offense on both sides did not let up, with a total of 17 shots by Williams and 14 by MIT. Many of these kicks came from farther than 20 yards and four of them missed strong and high, hitting the field goal crossbar above the goal.
Williams led in possession in the first half, but the rest of the game was even in attacking time. Sophomore
Meredith Tutun found ways to disrupt several MIT attempted runs, getting in front of the attackers to pressure them out of their rhythm. Midfielder sophomore
Tori Huang also with high pressure play, executing many headers to help keep the ball on the Ephs attack.
Going into the first overtime junior
Claire Tolliver drove the ball up the far side of the field and took a strong shot that just missed across the goal. The second overtime was controlled by Williams' offense with first-year
Paige Nelson sending a ball up to Tolliver who took another far shot and hit the field goal crossbar.
A free kick from Nordhoff in the 106
th bounced around the box, two consecutive Williams' headers blocked by the goalie but the ball stayed in play for Junior
Kiara Royer to take a shot that Castle saved.
In the last two minutes of OT MIT was on the attack, a long shot from MIT's Meagan Rowlett hitting the top crossbar and rebounding right on the goal line, Kamshad blocking the resulting shot.
The game went into a PK shootout with Huang converting her shot in the back left of the net to start it off. MIT follows up with a conversion as well, just making it into the top left corner. Junior
Shae Rashoff's kick deflected off Castle's fingertips to hit the right post and bounce out. MIT takes the advantage with their next shot going in on the ground. Senior
Brianna Binder just wide on her kick and MIT's third kick blocked by Kamshad. Senior
Maria Chapman converts her kick, a beautiful placement in the very left side of the goal. Kamshad saves the next MIT kick, and senior
Jaquelin Nordhoff makes William's last PK with a hefty shot into the top right corner. Senior
Leyla Kamshad cinched it for the Ephs, making a diving save on MIT's last shot.
From head coach
Sarah Raymond, "So proud of the whole team effort today against a very talented MIT team. Both teams played their hearts out and it could have gone either way in the game but once we got to penalties, I was confident we would move on as Leyla is so good at facing them. She was the difference in that moment saving the last 3 and helping us come from 2 down to win 3-2! We are so excited to be moving on and having another week together!"
The Ephs advance to the NCAA Sectionals next weekend, time and opponent TBD.
