MIDDLEBURY, VT. - Sophomore Kiki Higgins found the back of the net in the final penalty corner of regulation time to defeat the 3rd seeded Bates College Bobcats 2-1 and send the 4th seeded Williams College Ephs to the NESCAC Finals.
Brooke Moloney-Kolenberg gave the Bobcats an early 1-0 lead at the 19:56 mark. The Bobcats went into the halftime break maintaining that lead.
At the 51:22 mark, senior Molly Hellman tied it up 1-1 after redirecting the ball into the back of the net from an initial shot from sophomore Anna Miller.
Creating an opportunity with a penalty corner at the end of regulation, sophomore Pilar Torres battled to maintain the ball in the circle, finding Higgins who struck it first time into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1.
On the day, the Ephs outshot the Bobcats 18-5. Williams struck 10 on goal. Bates struck 3 on goal.
"We played out of our minds," stated Eph head coach Alix Barrale after the game. "The focus, the fight and the determination to finish in front of the net were the difference. We never gave up and fought back. Bates played an amazing game. They are an excellent team."
Williams will now face the top seeded Middlebury Panthers in the NESCAC Finals hosted by Middlebury College. The contest is set to take place tomorrow, Nov. 5, at 12:00 PM.
