Mechanicsburg, PA – A strong performance from the Ephs, cemented by goals from Brianna Wright and Bria Abbiati, will see them through to the NCAA Tournament round of 16.
 
The Ephs were on top for the first 20 minutes. The midfield axis of Jaquelin Nordhoff and Tori Huang was as composed as ever, and along with the rest of the team, kept possession for much of the first quarter of the game. Space opened up for a few Abbiati crosses from the left flank, but nobody got on the end of them. In the 8th minute, Wright tested Endicott goalkeeper Rosalina Caliri with a low shot.
 
In the 21st minute, Abbiati saw her shot from range fall into Caliri's arms. Caliri made another save four minutes later, when Nordhoff's free kick from way out was on target, but saveable. 
 
In the 28th minute, a series of passes between Ava Simunovic, Piper Dupies, and Abbiati resulted in an Abbiati shot over the crossbar. 
 
The Williams defense of Ava Simunovic, Paige Nelson, Reece Willison, and Sam Brown did an incredible job keeping the Gulls at bay, who had their first chance of the game in the 31st minute through Riley Rischitelli. Taking the ball down Ephs' right flank, Rischitelli danced into the box before shooting high and wide, ending a potential scoring opportunity.
 
In the 43rd minute Nordhoff found Claire Tolliver in the box, who turned and hit her shot over the crossbar from near the penalty spot. That would be the last chance of a half dominated by the Ephs, but that did not see either team truly stake their claim on the game.
 


In the first five minutes of the second half, Endicott seemed like their halftime talk had been productive, and they came out pressing the Ephs. That period ended, though as Williams' quality on the ball shone through and they again took control. From that moment, it was all Williams. 
 
The Ephs would take the lead in the 52nd minute. After Blakeley Buckingham took down a long ball, the ball found Parker Harnett. Harnett made a smart two-yard pass to Wright, who was not going to let the opportunity pass. Taking a touch to her left foot, Wright lobbed her shot directly into the top right corner of the Endicott net, leaving Caliri with absolutely no chance. 
 
Often times teams let up after taking the lead, but the Ephs did nothing of the sort. The next big chance came in the 60th minute, with Abbiati inches away from doubling the lead. Receiving the ball inside the box, Abbiati beat her marker before hitting a powerful shot towards the left corner of the goal. Caliri pulled out an excellent save, reacting quickly and diving to her right, palming the ball away. 
 
In the 65th minute, a Nordhoff corner was headed away and it appeared as if the Gulls were flying on the counterattack, but Kelly Beale chased down the Endicott attacker from one goalie box to the other and got the ball out.
 
Caliri made another great save on the 70th minute mark in one of the most bizarre plays you will see this year. Isabel Konijnenberg made a mazy run along the end line, leaving multiple defenders in her dust before squaring the ball to Tolliver, who must have been almost certain she had scored with her low shot, before Caliri stuck out her right leg from point blank to deny her. The play wasn't over, however, and Huang picked up the rebound, turning and shooting. Huang's shot hit the post, making yet another rebound possible. Abbiati's improvised attempt at goal was caught, ending a hectic thirty seconds. 
 
A minute later, an Ava Simunovic ball over the top found Wright, who headed a back pass to Buckingham. Buckingham's half-volley went high and wide.
 
With five minutes left, Abbiati iced the game, heading in a Nordhoff corner to give the Ephs a cushion. The corner kick was towards the back post, and Abbiati rose above every Endicott defender to get a head on it. Her header glanced into the bottom right corner, putting Williams 2-0 up and the game to bed.
 
Ana Bozzi-Mackay was never seriously tested, but made a save in the final two minutes, catching one of multiple Endicott long shots that were never very threatening. 
 
After the game, coach Sarah Raymond commented: "Great to see us playing at our potential again, created lots of good looks at goal today, and nice to get two of those in. Total team effort, I thought we competed hard, and had the unwavering belief that we would find a way to win. We're excited to face Messiah tomorrow."
 
A 2-0 scoreline does not do justice to the supremely dominant performance from the Ephs, who will play Messiah tomorrow at 3:00 P.M.