Amherst, MA -- The Ephs experienced a brutal form of deja vu in the NESCAC semifinals, playing out a game that was on paper quite similar to their quarterfinal win against Hamilton. In last week's game Hamilton scored in the first half before Williams equalized late into the second, eventually taking the game in penalties. Today, the Ephs scored the first half goal, leading to a late equalizer from the Polar Bears. Bowdoin won the shootout 5-4 to send the Ephs home to Williamstown.
Today's game in Amherst was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams running hard for the game's 110 minutes. While neither team had a clear edge at the start of the game, the Ephs had the first good look at goal.
In the 5th minute,
Kianna Porter received the ball in the midfield before hitting a long shot that went just over the net.
Tori Huang had another high shot in the 15th minute.
Williams goalie
Margaret Huelin was called into action in the 16th minute, when she was needed to save a header from Bowdoin forward Samaya Bernardo. Huelin was at it again three minutes later, saving a shot from Mary Rainey.
The sequence that got Williams the opening goal started with
Bria Abbiati. Getting the ball near the top of the box and opening up space for a shot, Abbiati lashed an effort towards the top left of the net. Her shot was saved after an acrobatic effort by Bowdoin keeper Charlotte Iannone, and the ball went out for a corner.
Jaquelin Nordhoff's corner was bounced around the box until it found
Isabel Konijnenberg, who was on able to put her shot away to give the Ephs the lead.
The half wound down, with both teams standing strong defensively.
The second half was exciting, with both teams determined to get the win. In the 52nd minute, the Polar Bears had a chance, finding a shot from inside the box which
Ana Bozzi-Mackay was on hand to save. Three minute later,
Brianna Wright made a great turn, letting the ball through her own legs to leave her defender in the dust, before shooting wide.
Claire Tolliver nearly put the game to bed in the 75th minute. Receiving the ball in the box, her shot on target took a slight deflection that saw the ball agonizingly hit the left post before Bowdoin could clear it.
Bowdoin's equalizer came in the 80th minute, with Ella Olcese scoring a beautiful goal. Receiving a ball over the top, Olcese charged forward with an excellent dribble, before keeping her composure to score, tying the game at 1-1.
Regulation ended, beginning two 10 minute overtime periods. No big chances came in the first ten minutes, but the Polar Bears nearly scored in the second.
Five minutes into second overtime, Olcese nearly scored again. Some excellent defending from
Ava Simunovic and a beautiful save from Bozzi-Mackay kept her out, and the teams went to penalties.
Bowdoin shot first, with Greta Farkas opening the score in the shootout.
Blakeley Buckingham leveled the score with an amazing penalty.
Bozzi-Mackay pulled off an incredible save on the third penalty, palming the ball over the net with her outstretched right hand.
The Ephs took the lead through
Bria Abbiati, before Bozzi-Mackay made another save, putting Williams in a good position.
Paige Nelson's penalty was saved, and Bowdoin made theirs, reducing their shootout deficit to one goal.
Ansley Burns and Bowdoin's Emilia Tutun scored, leaving Nordhoff with the last kick before sudden death.
Iannone stepped up big time, saving Nordhoff's penalty before scoring one of her own for the first shot of sudden death.
After Huang and Bernardo scored for their respective teams, the shootout was ended on its 14th shot, with Iannone saving
Claire Tolliver's attempt.
After the game, Williams coach
Sarah Raymond said: "So proud of our efforts today. We showed up ready to compete and went after the win from the first whistle. Unfortunately soccer can be cruel and you don't always get the result you feel you were capable of but we know we have more in us and can't wait to bring it in NCAA's next week."
While the loss will be a disappointing end to a strong NESCAC season for the Ephs, the season itself is not over, with an NCAA tournament run still available.
