Williamstown, MA - In the 20th minute of a set-piece heavy, defensive 1st half, defender Lucas O'Dowd broke the deadlock with a first-time, outside-the-box shot that would lift the Hamilton College Continentals (1-1-0 NESCAC; 1-2-0) to a 2-0 win over the Williams College Ephs (0-2-0 NESCAC; 1-2-0) victory under the lights of Farley-Lamb field.
Williams did well in the first half, outshooting Hamilton 6-3. The Ephs got the ball into the box frequently, generated a lot of dangerous free-kick opportunities, and hit Hamilton in transition moments. Hamilton responded well, playing tough individual defense and winning most of their aerial duels in front of goal to keep the Williams onslaught at bay.
The Ephs kicked off the attack in the 9th minute when sophomore Spencer Mix took a weaving touch around Lucas O'Dowd (who more than made up for his mistake only minutes later) and cut to the right to get a shot that, fortunate for Hamilton, fell right into the gloves of goalkeeper Finn Wheeler.
Only 2 minutes later, the Continentals had their first real chance, when Luke Peplowski took a good shot near post that Ephs senior goalkeeper
Ben Diffley, well positioned, was able to stop.
As the half continued, set pieces became the primary mode of attack for both sides. In the 13th minute, Williams junior Mohamed Keussom hit an inswinging corner that junior Henry Kirkman got his head on, only missing the goal by a few feet.
After a cagey 20 minutes for both sides, Continental Luka Rouhana, under pressure, poked the ball to Lucas O'Dowd, who was sitting in the right channel at the top of the Box. O'Dowd didn't take a breath and drove the pass, first time, just past Diffley's outstretched glove to give Hamilton the opening goal. It was a half-chance opportunity from a spot where shots rarely go in, but luck was on the Continental's side, and they were up 1-0.
In the rest of the half, Williams had four more shots. Their best chance came in the 40th minute, when sophomore Kellan Grace hit a diagonal pass that, had it been a little softer, would have put first-year Alex Bethencourt through on goal.
The first half ended 1-0 Hamilton.
In the 49th minute, the Ephs were close to tying the game when first-year Chase Caires took a low and hard shot on the ground, forcing a great save from Continental goalkeeper Finn Wheeler.
In the 66th minute, Williams got close to equalizing yet again when first-year Ben Brown won a header off a Henry Kirkman long throw, which goal keeper Finn Wheeler was well positioned to catch.
While the Ephs continued to put on the pressure, primarily via freekicks, it would be Hamilton that would score to double their lead. In the 76th minute, Hamilton won a corner kick. Luke Ehrenfreund hit the corner at the right height to the back post, and Luke Peplowski beat his man and buried it home with his head to make it 2-0.
The Ephs had a few more chances, including a 76th-minute left-footed, cut-in shot by Alex Bethencourt that went over the bar and a potential Henry Kirkman penalty kick in the 87th minute. Upon the no-call, Kellan Grace hit the rebounded ball on a half-volley, which went wide. Despite these chances, the Ephs couldn't find the back of the net, and the game ended 2-0 in favor of Hamilton.
Coach Steffen Siebert gave his thoughts on the loss:
"A game with a lot of midfield play and set pieces with very few actual chances for either team. Hamilton used a set piece and a half chance and that made the difference tonight. Proud of the team for never giving in and fighting until the very end. Time to recharge before heading back to Cole field on Saturday."
All energy will be put toward the Ephs' next game against Amherst College at noon on Saturday, where a win would make tonight's loss feel like a distant memory.
