Williamstown, MA – The Ephs welcomed Connecticut College in their last home game of the season this weekend. The Camels had no answer for Williams' relentless pressure as goals from
Elizabeth Stophel,
Brianna Wright, and
Bria Abbiati capped off a dominant display from the Ephs.
Sam Phan nearly scored off a direct free kick in the 3
rd minute. Shooting from the top of the box, she slammed her shot off the crossbar. She put in a strong performance at the number 10 position in the first half, pressing well and connecting with a fluid front three of Wright,
Greta Pew, and Stophel.
Meredith Tutun arrived late to a cross in the 5
th minute, firing a shot over. The Ephs kept up their relentless pressure, as Wright had a great look at goal after getting on the end of a nice pass from Stophel. Her shot went at the goalkeeper, though, and Williams had to keep pushing.
In the 12
th minute, the Camels had their first half chance of the game, sending the ball sailing into the Williams box. A Conn attacker got to it first but headed wide. It was a lonely opportunity in a first half that was all Williams.
In the 19
th minute, Wright drove to the end line and fired a cross into the six-yard box. Pew was there, managing to get her foot on the bouncing ball but hitting her shot off the post. It was the last play with a zero-zero score as the Ephs found their goal a minute later.
Wright dropped deep to collect a ball and through a deflection found Stophel. Stophel took on two players and cut in onto her right foot. She fired her shot into the left side netting leaving no chance for a save. The goal showed just how dangerous Williams can be.
Lily Mark and
Ansley Burns did very well at the double pivot, linking the defense to the attack with class. They were also defensively great, leaving the back four and
Margaret Huelin with very little to worry about.
The Ephs nearly scored again in the 28
th minute.
Elle Long's shot was threatening but the Conn 'keeper made the save, tipping Long's shot onto the crossbar and back out. Mark was there for the rebound and got to the ball, but the goalkeeper rushed out again to make another good stop.
The first half ended with neither team able to conjure up another chance. Two yellow cards and a red in a minute for the Connecticut head coach after a heated exchange with the referee meant that the Camels would have to rely on their assistant manager for the whole second half
The second half came and brought a renewed intensity to the game. The Ephs played a more defensive game, looking to keep control of an increasingly physical match up.
Ava Simunovic and
Leila Alvarez were excellent, clearing the ball away whenever it got near the Williams goal.
Wright was everywhere down the right flank for the Ephs. In the 60
th minute, she was on the end of a great cross, heading the ball inches away from the goal. She was knocking on the door and in the 62
nd minute she got her goal. A throw-in landed at the feet of Abbiati, who took it down and calmly laid the ball to Wright inside the box. She set herself and shot high. It looked like the keeper had saved it, parrying the ball and then picking it up, but the ball had gone over the line and the Ephs extended their lead to two.
Emmy Chung had a foray forward from defensive midfield in the 78
th minute, driving into the box and shooting a powerful strike just wide. A minute later, Connecticut had a chance of their own, with a forward looking like she had space to shoot in the box but losing her balance and skying her strike.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Williams extended their lead.
Kelly Beale drove down the left flank and cut the ball back for Abbiati, who took the ball in stride and unleashed a rocket that smashed off the crossbar and down into the goal. For the second time in the game, the sideline referee was required to call the goal since the ball bounced out immediately after going in.
The game ended 3-0, with the scoreline representing just how well the Ephs did today as friends and family looked on.
After the game, Eph head coach
Sarah Raymond said: "Really proud of the team today to compete for every minute and put everything together in front of the goal. I thought our front players created so many dangerous chances and it feels good to score on three of those. It was a great team effort, players stepped up in big ways all over the field against a challenging NESCAC team in Conn."
Williams' regular season ends Tuesday with a game at Middlebury. After that contest the Ephs will wait to see where they are seeded in the NESCAC Tournament Field to see whom they will play and where next weekend.
