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Williams College

Home of the Williams College EPHS
1920 Dylan Keleman
Maya Singh
2
Winner Williams WILL (9-2-2, 5-2-1)
0
Keene State KSC (4-8-3, 3-3-1)
Winner
Williams WILL
(9-2-2, 5-2-1)
2
Final
0
Keene State KSC
(4-8-3, 3-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Williams WILL 1 1 2
Keene State KSC 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

On Fire Ephs Rout Keene State 2-0

Keene N.H –There was never any doubt for the Williams College Ephs (9-2-2), who absolutely dominated the Keene State College Owls (4-8-3) for 90 Minutes and won the night 2-0, a frankly modest scoreline given the Ephs' performance. The pair of goals both came from impressive first year volleys. The first was started by a 22nd minute junior Evan Vasquez ball into the box that found it's way to first year Ben Brown, who hit a fantastic volley from the the top of the box firmly into the net. The final goal to ice the game came in the 48th minute off a senior Tate Michelson corner kick that first year Lorcan Mitchell, in traffic, flicked up to himself and volleyed home. The attacking rout was backed up by a resolute defense and a quiet night for the two keepers, senior Ben Diffley and first year Kai Darrell, who only had to deal with one shot on goal all night. Tonight's win extends Williams's unbeaten streak to 10 games with an impressive 8-0-2 record.  The Eph's defense has been a particular strength, as they have allowed only two goals over this stretch. 

Williams didn't waste any time taking over tonight's match. In the 7th minute, sophomore Jeff Stauffer received a bouncing ball with his back to goal at the top of the box. Stauffer spun his first defender and turned, driving the ball forward into the left side of the box, where he gracefully megged a second Owl defender to get into space. Stauffer then cracked a shot that, had it not hit side netting on its own, would have found a lurking junior Mohamed Keussom.

Keussom would get his own deserved look at goal in the 18th minute when fellow junior Henry Kirkman hit a side foot flick through ball to send him running towards goal in the right channel, where he ripped off a shot that had Owl goalkeeper Eldin Husanovic beat but skidded just wide for a Keene State goal kick. 

In the 22nd minute, junior Evan Vasquez launched a dangerous in-swinging ball into the box. The cross was headed out of the 6-yard box by an Owl defender, but a well-positioned, anticipating Ben Brown was right there and volleyed the ball with power into the back of the net, giving the Ephs the first goal of the match. 

 The only semblance of chance for the Owls in the first half came off a questionable free-kick call in the 39th minute. The Owls hit a ball into the box and found the head of Keene State defender Brandon Comir, but it floated over the bar. 

The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Ephs. 

There would be no second half mercy for the Owls who would find themselves in a whole twice as large when in the 48th minute, Tate Michelson hit a low-driven corner kick into the box. The ball bounced through traffic and fell to Lorcan Mitchell, who flicked the ball up and deftly volleyed the ball into the back of the net, giving Williams the 2-0 lead. 

Many call 2-0 the most dangerous lead in soccer and the Ephs, well aware of this, didn't take their foot off the gas. In the 50th minute, Henry Kirkman and Lorcan Mitchell engaged in some excellent combination play that gave Kirkman a bit of space of which he took every inch, rocketing a shot on target that Husanovic had to get big to save and redirect wide. 

The chemistry between Mithcell and Kirkman would again prove dangerous only 2 minutes later in the 52nd minute when first-year Alex Bethencourt threaded a through ball into the diagonal run of Lorcan Mitchell, who drew two defenders with him. Mitchell, recognizing the space he had just created, back-heeled the ball to the feet of Henry Kirkman who was sitting virtually unmarked at the top of the box. Unfortunately for the Ephs, Kirkman didn't make perfect contact with his shot, and he hit the ball over the bar. 

In the 59th minute, another through ball from Alex Bethencourt found the feet of  Lorcan Mitchell, who hit a second through ball to Spencer Mix. Mix made well of the double through ball and hit a difficult shot on goal that forced a good save from the Owl keeper. 

The only dangerous chance for Keene State came in the 79th minute when a long ball from deep took a fortunate bounce and landed to Owl attacker Stephen Kallestad. Kallestad, with no defender on him, half-volleyed the ball, forcing an incredible tip save over the bar by goalkeeper Kai Darrell.  

Williams was close to finding a late 3rd goal in the 89th minute when Tate Michelson, who had been a nightmare all night for the Owl Defense, danced around multiple defenders to hit a ball to senior Dan Zhang, who, via a diving header, hit the ball just wide of the goal. It wouldn't matter, however, as the Ephs would ride out the last seconds of the game to a 2-0 victory, extending their unbeaten streak to 10 games. 

Eph head coach Steffen Siebert had only nice things to say about the Ephs after their win: "Great team performance to get a road win against a well-organized Keene State team. The team played with a lot of confidence on the ball and worked incredibly hard defensively, which is something we are very proud of and gives us a lot of momentum going into this weekend." 

Williams will continue their so far so good campaign on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, when they take on Connecticut College on Cole Field at 12:30 PM. 
 
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