Lewiston, ME – For the first time this season, the Williams College Ephs (2-1, 1-0) hit the road to face off against the Bates College Bobcats (2-3, 0-2) in their opening NESCAC match of the year. After a slow start to the game for the Ephs would come roaring back and find themselves in another tied game with a minute to go. Unlike last time out against Union, Williams would not let this slip away as
Pearse Glavin fired the Ephs ahead with 10 seconds remaining to win 15-14.
The first quarter would not be one of the best for the Ephs as they struggled to get any momentum on the road. Bates would finally strike at the 7:00 minute mark of the opening quarter to take the initial lead, the first that Williams had conceded this year. They would soon make it two before adding another late to lead the Ephs 3-0 going into the second quarter.
Williams wasted no time establishing a response as
Ryan Johnson set up
Nick Bates for the Ephs first of the game. Bates wouldn't let the Ephs back in just yet, as they would retake a three-goal lead just minutes later. Thus began the Williams comeback as Finlay Macknight would answer just forty seconds later to make it 4-2 Bobcats. Several minutes later, Cade Shuckman would fire home his first of the year to bring the Ephs within one before Macknight would score again to level the game at 4-4. Following a Bobcats' penalty with just a few minutes remaining, the red-hot Ephs man-up unit would take advantage with
Harrison Cross scoring off a
Nick Bates pass.
Pearse Glavin would cap off the five-goal run with a goal of his own just thirty seconds later. Bates would claw one back before half, but the Williams momentum shift had changed the tides as they found themselves up 6-5.
The third quarter began similarly to the second with the Ephs getting a quick goal off the stick of
Calvin Caputo. Their timely scoring continued as
Nick Bates found the back of the net just forty seconds later to extend their lead to 8-5. The two teams would trade quick goals shortly after with Cade Shuckman drawing the Ephs goal off a
Will Doran pass. Bates saw an opportunity to reclaim the flow of the game and did so with authority as they went on to score four goals in the next five minutes to take a 10-9 lead. The Ephs would not stay quiet for long, however, as
Calvin Caputo potted his second of the game before
Pearse Glavin did the same to make it 11-10 Ephs heading into the final frame.
The Ephs opened their third straight quarter with an opening minute goal as
Pearse Glavin set up
Sam Cragin for the senior's first of the year. Bates would pull back a goal at the twelve minute mark to bring it back to a one goal game, setting the teams up for a grandstand finish. With five minutes remaining in the contest, Caputo would complete his hat trick off a pass from Cade Shuckman to make it 13-11 Williams. Bates fired back with two goals in forty seconds to tie the game at 13-13 with 3:30 left in the game. Williams and Bates would trade illegal procedure penalties in the following minute, and both man-ups did their jobs.
Pearse Glavin would hammer home a pass from Caputo to make it 14-13 before Bates tied it on their ensuing man-up. With a minute remaining and the score 14-14, the Ephs were hungry to correct their heartbreaking loss to Union midweek.
Patrick Gaul caused a massive turnover with forty seconds remaining and the Ephs pushed up the field. Following a timeout from the Ephs,
Calvin Caputo would set up
Pearse Glavin for a clutch goal as the Ephs secured a 15-14 victory.
After the win, Eph head coach
George McCormack had this to say: "We certainly had a slow start versus a good Bates team. Our senior leadership stepped up at halftime and allowed us to refocus and play some very good lacrosse in the 2nd half.
Pearse Glavin's goal in the final seconds of the game cemented our trust in him and our entire offense to rise to the occasion when needed."
Williams will look to keep rolling as they host Wesleyan University Saturday at 1pm.
