Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA— The #2 ranked Williams College Ephs (5-1-1; 2-1-1 NESCAC) fell 2-0 to the visiting Bowdoin College Polar Bears (5-0-2, 2-0-2 NESCAC).
In a battle between two unbeaten teams, it was the Polar Bears who walked away victorious, finally finding a way past the Ephs' defense, the first team this season to do so.
The first half was well-contested and entertaining, but offensively uneventful, as both teams created some shots on target but headed into half time at zero-zero.
It was a tense affair, with some fine saves, and the air that maybe neither of these teams would be able to break down the other's staunch defense.
Three minutes into the second half, though, the deadlock was broken.
Breaking on the counter attack, the Polar Bears found space on the left side, where the winger, released into space, cut inside on his right foot and was able to beat Ben Diffley at his near post.
It was the first goal the Ephs have conceded in seven games this season.
The Ephs, behind for the first time all season, showed fight and determination, and nearly equalized in the 65' when the ball fell fortuitously for first-year Beck Walthers, and was only kept out of the net by an acrobatic, last-ditch dive from the Bowdoin goalkeeper.
Pressed for time, the Ephs kept their foot on the gas, and maintained near-constant pressure on Bowdoin's backline. Clear goal scoring chances proved challenging to carve out, but the Polar Bears were seldom able to progress the ball past midfield, and the Ephs' attacking threat was ever-present.
With seven minutes left, though, Bowdoin exploited a rare lapse—winning a long ball, maintaining possession in the Ephs' half, and again finding space on the left wing—and were able to drive into the Ephs' 18 and draw a penalty, which Tyler Huck converted for his second goal of the game.
Williams showed their tenacity and never stopped attacking until the last, forcing another good save with 20 seconds left, with the game's result already out of hand.
The Ephs unbeaten record and unblemished goals against tally did not make it through the weekend, but there were plenty of bright spots in terms of the response to being scored on and some quality individual performances.
Coach Siebert, after the game, praised his team's effort and spirit: "Great performance by the guys today. Bowdoin capitalized on the few chances we gave them which made the difference in today's game. We kept pushing until the very end but today was not our day. Full week of training now before we go again next weekend against Amherst."
Williams' NESCAC double header ends with the Ephs falling to 2-1-1 in conference play, following yesterday's scoreless draw against Colby.
As Coach Siebert said, the Ephs will have an opportunity to right the ship next week against arch-rivals Amherst, when they face them, away, on Saturday.
