Williams Beats Bates to Extend Win Streak

Williamstown, Massachusetts - Another Tori Huang goal was enough to lift the Ephs (6-2-1/5-1-1NESCAC) over Bates in a contested NESCAC matchup. Williams looked the better team for the entire game, but were unable to turn their dominance into more goals. The Ephs have now won five game sin a row.
 
Williams threatened first in the fourth minute with a Reece Willison cross from deep into the box. Tori Huang, always threatening on crosses, got her head to the ball but it went wide. Five minutes later, the Ephs were in the Bates box again. Bria Abbiati received the ball and turned her marker before firing a shot onto the outside side netting. 
 
Meredith Tutun performed superbly at right back, doing a great job defensively and getting forward. In a span of four first half minutes, she was at the back post to head out a dangerous looking Bates cross and then taking an audacious shot from distance that sailed just over.
 
Willison nearly scored a great goal in the 21st minute. After the ball was cleared from the box after a Williams cross she stepped to the ball nearly 40 yards out and shot. It looked as if the Ephs had scored when the Bates goalkeeper parried the ball onto the crossbar. The ball bounced back from the crossbar onto her back, onto the goal line, and then out.


 
Williams kept knocking on the door. In the 28th minute, Elle Long got to an Ansley Burns corner at the back post and headed the ball just over. 
 
Bates had their first attack of the game 33 minutes in. They were able to get a couple crosses into the Williams 18 yard box, with Leila Alvarez on hand to head the most dangerous one away. Margaret Huelin touched the ball with her hands once the whole half, as the Ephs barely let the ball out of the Bates half.
 
Despite their dominance, the Ephs were unable to get a goal in the first half. They kept on the hunt for an opener as the second half rolled in.
 
In the 46th minute, Abbiati got a chance to shoot after a jumble in the box. She shot high, but that play set the tone for the half as the Ephs again started to assert themselves. The attacking trident of Abbiati, Sam Phan, and Brianna Wright kept threatening with good combination plays.
 
Bates tried to build out of the back for the whole game, taking goal kicks short to the center backs. The Ephs pressed them tenaciously, with most plays ending in a clearance straight to the head of Ava Simunovic.
 
In the 55th minute the Ephs had a pair of good opportunities through Wright, Phan, and Abbiati. Wright picked up the ball 5 yards out of the 18 and dribbled past two players, before having her shot blocked by a third. The ball popped out to Phan, who crossed to Abbiati on the back post. Abbiati's header went wide.
 
And then, in the 60th minute, the inevitable happened. Ansley Burns stepped up to a free kick outside of the box and whipped it in to the back post. Tori Huang, seemingly always exactly where Williams' crosses go, showed up to give the Ephs the lead. Getting some separation from her defender, she arrowed a header into the back of the net. 
 
Bates were able to get out from under the thumb of the Williams press with 25 minutes remaining. They had a couple of shots from dangerous spots, but Ana Bozzi-Mackay saved the whole lot. 
 
Greta Pew and Lily Mark combined for a great chance in the 77th minute. A give-and-go between the two left Mark central with great momentum. She surged forward, sending a low shot towards the bottom left corner. It went inches wide.
 
Bates' goalkeeper was excellent throughout the match, claiming crosses left and right. Bates finished the game strong, getting a few opportunities to equalize. The most dangerous came in the 89th minute. A free kick from deep looked like it was landing in a very dangerous spot in the middle of the Williams 18 yard box. Ana Bozzi-Mackay was on hand to grab it, though, and the game ended 1-0 to the Ephs. 
 
Speaking after the game, Eph head coach Sarah Raymond said: "While we made the game much harder than it needed to be, we're proud that we were able to see it through and get another win in the NESCAC which is no easy feat. Tori saves us once again with another game winner. Looking forward to seeing the balls end up in the back of the net more than we're doing right now. I know it's coming. Our team effort defensively is helping us to maintain clean sheets which I'm really proud of. We're still looking for that complete game where we put all of the pieces together."
 
The Ephs front line will have to become more productive as playoffs loom, but a win is a win and the Ephs march on. Williams plays again tomorrow at 1:00 PM, at home against the University of Southern Maine.