Ephs Fall to Trinity 11-10 in First Game of the 2023 Season

HARTFORD, CT- The Ephs fell short on the opening day of the 2023 season 11-10 to the Trinity Bantams. The Ephs had some great play, both offensively and defensively, but the Bantams were clinical on their free-position shots this afternoon.

Just over a minute into the game, the Ephs scored a chaotic goal through Isabel Arvelo to take the lead 1-0.  The Ephs doubled their lead with 9:32 left in the first quarter after Claudia Russell picked up the ball around the 8 meter and drove inside before firing a lefty shot into the back of the net.

The Bantams had a few chances early in the first quarter, hoping to ask questions of the Eph's defense, but the Eph's defense remained solid, with Caitlyn Joyce making some key saves. However, the Bantams cut the Eph lead in half with just over 2 minutes in the quarter through Molly McGuckin's free position goal. The Ephs regained their two-goal cushion after Meaghan Day found a spectacular pass to Katherine McCullough to take a 3-1 lead in the second quarter. 

The Bantams opened the second quarter with another free position goal, this time by Lily Ives, with 12:46 left in half. The Bantams tied it up with just over 10 minutes remaining after Casey Ward converted the Bantams' third free position goal. The Ephs regained their advantage and took a 4-3 lead after a good finish from Elsa Dean-Muncie. The Bantams matched the Ephs again as Casey Ward through another free position goal and got her second of the game. The Ephs scored a 5-4 lead with only a few seconds remaining in the first half after Claudia Russell blew by the Bantam defense to score. Russell's goal was a huge momentum swing for the Ephs as they headed into the locker room.

Despite Russell's late first-half goal, Lily Ives and Caroline Lampert scored for the Bantams to give them their first lead two minutes into the second half. Grace Collier equalizes for the Ephs with 9:30 left in the third quarter. After some deliberation, the Bantams regained their one-goal advantage to take a 7-6 lead by way of Caroline Lampert. The Bantams doubled their advantage through Molly McGuckin with just under four minutes in the third quarter. But the Ephs continued to persevere; Shea van den Broek does what she does best and finds a good goal to cut the Bantam lead in half.

The Bantams came out in the fourth quarter and scored two goals in quick succession to take a 10-7 lead. The Ephs cut the Bantam lead down to two with just under ten minutes remaining in the game from a free position goal from Elsa Dean-Muncie. Abby Godwin brought the Ephs within one after she drove down the right side of the goal and fired a shot off the left post and in, forcing the Bantams to take a timeout. But the Bantams re-established their two-goal lead from a free position once again. The Ephs kept fighting; Elsa Dean-Muncie managed to get through the tough Bantam defense to score, which brought the Ephs within one with just about a minute to play. The Ephs had a few attempts at the last minute of the game. However, it was not enough, and the Ephs fell just short 11-10.

Head Coach Alice Lee stated, "I thought today was a game of the 50/50, the extra possession opportunities, and I think that Trinity got a few extra, but we competed hard today and good stuff to build on for the next game, and a lot of people stepped up in different ways."

The Ephs return home tomorrow to face Smith College at 1PM, hoping to bounce back.