WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – Heavy rain forced the Eph season-opener form the natural surface of Cole Field to the turf surface at Farley-Lamb Field. After 90 minutes the game finished in a scoreless draw leaving Springfield at 0-1-1 on the year and Williams 0-0-1.
Just over 2 minutes in
Nick Boardman's header off a ricocheted ball in the box was cleared off the line by a Springfield back. Williams threatened again 17 minutes later, but
Will Felitto's shot from the top center of the box was right at Springfield goalie Clayton Knibbs who was able to catch it and clutch it to his midsection for a goalie kick.
In the 38
th minute Springfield received a direct kick opportunity from Eph netminder
Ben Diffley's right from about 23 yards out. Jack Rosenberg's shot was denied by Diffley who caught the ball off a bounce and then punted the ball out of harm's way. Two minutes later Springfield's Chris Cruz had an opportunity from 17 yards out to Diffley's left, but his shot sailed over the goal.
In the first half Springfield had 6 shots, but only 1 on goal and Williams had 5 shots and 1 on goal.
In the 52
nd minute the Ephs'
Dan Rayhill went along the endline to the left side Knibbs, but his centering pass was intercepted and redirected out of the box by a Springfield defender. A minute later Rayhill fed a streaking
Felipe Gutierrez whose shot from inside the box was stopped by Knibbs.
Five minutes later Springfield's Leland Malloy got off a shot from inside the box to Diffley's left, but the Eph keeper was able to catch it.
An Eph corner at 61:05 was headed on goal by
Brady Foehl, but it was headed off the line by a well-positioned Springfield defender.
In the 77
th minute Springfield's Matias Otero had a window and drilled a shot from outside the top middle of the box, however it kept rising and went over the bar.
Five minutes later Felipe Gonzalez ran onto a ball headed by a Springfield defender and ripped a shot that sailed over the crossbar.
In the 85
th minute the Ephs
Dan Rayhill hit a rolling shot to the right of Knibbs who was forced to dive to full extension to deny the goal.
With 90 seconds left Leland Malloy tried to roll one past Diffley, but the Eph keeper was able to collect the ball without much difficulty.
On the night Williams had 13 shots, but only 4 on goal, while Springfield mustered up 11 shots, and also had 4 on goal.
Williams earned 6 corners on the night to 1 for Springfield.
Eph head coach
Steffen Siebert noted post game, "Good start to the season against a good team. We created a lot scoring opportunities from a lot of different players. Very happy for some new guys to get there first ever college game in. Proud of the effort everyone put in today and looking forward to another opportunity Saturday on Cole."
Next up for the Ephs is a home encounter on Saturday morning in on Cole Field at 11:00 AM when they will host Mount Aloysius College.
