CLAREMONT, CA. -- The second game of spring break for the No. 13 Williams College Ephs found them playing Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). Warm West Coast weather greeted the Ephs, alongside their 13-9 win over the Athenas on Monday evening at Zinda Field.
Offensively, the Ephs showcased depth and versatility with multiple players contributing to the scoreboard. Claudia Russell emerged as the top scorer, netting four goals. Defenders led by Jade Lowe forced turnovers throughout the game and disrupted CMS's offensive rhythm, playing a crucial role in securing the win.
Quick drives and finishes by CMS momentarily tampered with Williams' momentum in the first quarter. Williams and CMS came firing with a lot of quickly exchanged goals. A fast ground ball pickup by Abby Godwin in the draw circle led to a hard drive and shot to tie the game 3-3 towards the end of the quarter.
However, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps soon responded with 3 drives, giving CMS the 6-4 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. The turning point in the game came from a 7-0 scoring run by Williams, spanning both halves of the game. With 25 seconds left in the first half, defender Paige Nelson snagged CMS's pass in midfield and sprinted 40 yards to bury her first goal of the season, tying the game 6-6 at halftime.
A new quarter kick started the Eph offense. Following the first draw control, Williams greeted CMS with a 5-goal streak in the third quarter. Multiple free possession conversions by Claudia Russel and fast transitions helped grow their lead to 11-6.Â
With 2:30 left in the third, CMS hit a low bounce shot on the 8-meter to keep the Athenas within striking distance. Yet, a sharp cut through the 8 and top right corner finish by Williams attacker Stephanie Wistreich extended the Eph lead, back to 6,13-7.
Reflecting on the game, defender Claire Weirman stated, "I'm proud of our team for locking in in the second half and cleaning up the little things. We struggled to connect in the beginning but there were some great overall moments that I hope we carry over into our next game."
With a record of 5-1, the Ephs look ahead to their next challenge against the No. 12 ranked Pomona Pitzer on Wednesday evening.
