WILLIAMSTOWN, MA—The Williams College Ephs (6-2-1) defeated the Keene State Owls (6-3-1) by a score 2-0 today at home down on Cole field.
The first half was full of chances for Williams, as they enjoyed the lion's share of possession, and kept the ball right on the edge of the Owl's final third. Keene State, for their part, looked capable on offense, and moved the ball well when they had it, but were rarely able to turn possession into goal-scoring opportunities, and finished the half with no shots on target.
The Ephs, on the other hand, weren't able to get a goal out of their dominance, but orchestrated 13 shots, putting three on frame.
In the second half, the Eph's offense exploded. Spencer Mix '27 opened the scoring in the 62', receiving the ball in a crowded area at the top of the 18 yard box and doing his best impression of one Lionel Andres Messi as drifted past not one, not two, but three Keene State defenders—not to mention the goalie—before wheeling off in deserved celebration, leaving a literal pile of red-jerseyed limbs on the ground in his wake.
The Ephs doubled their lead six minutes later as Kellan Grace '27, Mix's assister, ran a one-man counter attack after an Owl corner, streaking down the field and blowing by defenders. He was finally dispossessed shortly before the Owl's penalty box, but the ball fell fortuitously for fellow freshman Jack Stauffer, who pinpointed the bottom left corner from 20 yards, bagging his second goal of the season.
After the floodgates opened, there was no letting up. In the 80th minute, from the Eph's 11th corner of the game, Mohamed Keussom '26 sent a tantalizing, looping ball right to the top of the six-yard box, where Connor Huleatt soared head and shoulders above his defenders to power it, emphatically, into the back of the net for 3-0.
Despite staunch defense, and some impressive saves from the Owl's shotstopper, at this point in the game Keene State looked a little worn out. The Eph's pressure was relentless, though, and in the 85' they found their fourth and final goal of the contest. David Wang hustled to compete for a high ball, the result of a misclearance in the Owl's box. He out-muscled his defender, got his bearings, and lobbed a half-valley over the out-rushing goalie to put a pretty little bow on things for the Ephs.
Defensively, the Ephs returned to their familiar script, keeping another clean sheet, their eighth of the young season.
After the game, Coach Siebert applauded his team's effort, and the fruits of their labor: "Great team performance from the first to the last minute. Happy for the team that they were awarded with some special goals in the second half for their hard work all game."
The Ephs move to 6-2-1 and will look forward to next Saturday, when they travel to New London for some NESCAC action against the Connecticut College Camels.
