MIDDLETOWN, CONN. -- The Ephs suffered a tough defeat away at Wesleyan. It was a tale of two halves as Williams was unable to convert their first half attacks but the Cardinals made one count in the 68
th minute to win the game.
Williams flew out of the gates. The first ten minutes saw
Sam Phan and
Bria Abbiati shoot wide right and over the bar respectively, as well as two Williams corner kicks that threatened, but did not lead to goals.
Eph goalkeeper
Margaret Huelin did well to keep out a Wesleyan strike in the 14
th minute, getting down to her left to collect the ball. The rest of the half was highly combative, with the only shot registered by either team after the first 15 minutes coming from
Piper Dupies.
Neither team could get an opportunity as the first half closed out, but the game exploded into action as soon as the second half began.
Ana Bozzi-Mackay, replacing Huelin in goal, made a save of her own in the 48
thminute. Two minutes later, the Ephs won a corner kick after a
Bria Abbiati shot was deflected off the pitch.
Dupies had her second look of the game denied by the Wesleyan keeper, as the Ephs pressed forward to look for the opening goal.
Unfortunately, the opener came for Wesleyan in the 68
th minute. The Cardinals found a small gap in the Williams defense and got the ball to Stefanie Stoj at the back post, who finished well. The goal was well worked but unlucky for the Ephs, who will be aggrieved as it seemed that a previous play would be called but wasn't.
The Ephs hunted for the equalizer but couldn't find it, with one important moment being an 86
th minute save by Wesleyan's 'keeper off of an Abbiati shot.
After the game, Eph head coach
Sarah Raymond commented: "Hard fought NESCAC game between two very good teams. I thought we played really well in the first half and created good chances but couldn't find the back of the net. Wesleyan pushed us hard in the second half. It was a tough result but ultimately we need to find a way to finish."
Soccer is a game of tight margins, and while those margins went Wesleyan's way today, the Ephs played well and will look to get themselves back on track tomorrow when they host #6 MIT on Cole Field.
