Williamstown, MA - In the third game of the season for the Williams College Ephs (3-0) they welcomed the Bates College Bobcats (2-3) to Farley-Lamb Field. Led by four goals from
Claudia Russell and six saves in one half for
Anj Raman, the Ephs continued their strong start to the season with a commanding 11-0 victory.
As was the story in the past two games for the Ephs they came out of the gate strong. Winning the first draw control and after some quick passing,
Claudia Russell scored her first of the game driving down the middle of the crease. Following this,
Elsa Dean-Muncie added to her offensively dominant season with her second goal, spinning off her right shoulder succeeding off an assisting pass from
Franny Donohue, 2-0. Five minutes in, Bates began their offensive push, however, the Ephs exhibited what would be an afternoon of crushing defense. After some back-and-forth,
Zoe Getzin anticipated and stole a Bobcat pass for the first caused turnover of the match. Charging downfield off that turnover,
Cece Tauber ran the crease and slipped in a low shot to bring the game to 3-0. With 4 minutes left in the quarter, Eph goalie
Anj Raman earned her first and second save of the game blocking and grabbing two Bobcat shots. Turning defense into offense,
Claudia Russell sidestepped her defender and drove in to score her second goal with a high shot and made it 4-0. As a testament to their dominance, the Ephs won nearly every draw control, with first-year attacker
Juliet Kilborn being perfect in this quarter's draw controls.
Starting the second quarter strong,
Lauren Morganlander had her first goal of the game, showcasing excellent footwork by turning off the middle for just enough space to give a 5-0 lead. Williams kept the ball near the Bobcat goal for the next couple of minutes, with their precise passes around the crease. Although seven minutes in, Bates returned with a push of their own, only for
Anj Raman to make the proper read for her fifth save. In the Ephs' counteroffensive,
Abby Godwin broke through the defense for the high shot and goal for her first point of the season, 6-0. Subsequently, the Bobcats went on the attack, driving baseline only for their shot to be gobbled up by
Anj Raman for her sixth save of the half. The Ephs pushed off that for
Lauren Morganlander to score her second goal, with a free position under-the-legs of the Bates goalie. After a few more minutes of the smothering Williams' defens the Ephs arrive at halftime with a 7-0 lead.
The impressive Eph defense continued through the second half. Two minutes in,
Abby Godwin snatched the steal for the caused turnover.
Molly Hellman followed this in the next defensive possession, swallowing up the ground ball for the offensive push. The Ephs followed these plays with strong offensive efforts, earning a few shots on goal but the Bobcats quick interior defense garnered some saves and blocks to prevent the Ephs from growing their lead. However, goalie
Caroline Pratt returned the favor by saving Bates' 8-meter free position shot and disrupting a later shot by forcing it high. Williams ended the scoring drought in this quarter with two goals from
Claudia Russell. First, she pulled out a hat trick, cutting through the middle and scoring a bouncing shot. After a winning draw control,
Claudia Russell cut once again and scored off an assisting pass from
Abby Godwin, for her fourth goal of the boosting the Ephs to a 9-0 lead. Two minutes later,
Cece Tauber scored her second goal off a spin move to close out the quarter for the Ephs.
Despite their nearly insurmountable 10-0 lead, the Ephs did not take their foot off the gas whatsoever. Williams started the final quarter with another great defensive effort by forcing a rushed Bobcat shot to avoid a shot-clock violation that was saved by
Caroline Pratt. When Bates next came down the field
Franny Donohue stick-checked in the midfield for the caused turnover. Soon after,
Elsa Dean-Muncie had a good look six minutes in although the shot was blocked by the handle of the Bobcats' goalie. In the next offensive possession,
Stephanie Wistreich absorbed a hit to the face earning a free position shot which she converted for Williams' eleventh and final goal of the afternoon.
This game marks consecutive double-digit victories for the Ephs. Eph head coach
Alice Lee was asked after the game about what's clicking so well for this team, "We are firing on all cylinders. Everyone is working hard and it's been a lot of fun to see a very balanced team effort each game." Midfielder
Paige Nelson commented, "Our group is super close and connected which allows for a great competitive nature during practices. We are all so excited that the season is finally here so I think that energy is fueling our hard work out on the field." You can definitely see this excitement in the way the team has been playing.
The Ephs look to maintain their excellent start in their next game where they travel to Middletown, Connecticut to play Wesleyan, one week from today on 3/16 at 1 pm.
