Williamstown, MA - Williams (1-0-1 NESCAC) edged out Tufts (1-1, 01 NESCAC) in a close encounter today, winning 2-1 at Cole Field. An incredible long shot from
Ansley Burns and a late
Tori Huang winner were just enough to beat a tough Tufts team. In an end-to-end match where both teams traded periods of dominance, a well-coached Ephs side was able to weather the pressure to come out on top.
The first chance of the game came in the sixth minute, when a
Piper Dupies' shot was blocked out for a corner. Tufts grew into the game, pressing higher up.
In the tenth minute, Tufts' Emily Nicholas forced Eph goalie
Margaret Huelin into the first hard save of the game with a long range effort. Two minutes later, Huelin made another save, grabbing an Elsi Aires volley.
In the 19th minute, a play that was emblematic of the game as a whole went down.
Tori Huang got the ball in the midfield, playing a through ball for
Claire Tunney, who waited for support from
Blakeley Buckingham. The Tufts defense cleared the ball, going on a dangerous attack of their own until
Kianna Porter cleared the ball out of danger.
During the second half of the first period, the Tufts crossbar became the villain and hero for Williams.
A strike from distance in the 25th minute by
Isabel Konijnenberg curled onto the crossbar, bouncing out for a goal kick, but sending a warning shot to Tufts. In the 33rd minute, Huang shot from just outside the box. It looked to be a certain goal but goalkeeper Gigi Edwards was able to push the ball onto the crossbar and it bounced out. Burns came in for the rebound, which was also saved.
At the 40 minute mark, Huelin was called into action again, getting down to her left to save a shot from inside the box.
And then, two minutes later, it happened. Burns collected the ball at 25 yards away from the Tufts goal, belting a shot that arced towards the upper 90. Edwards leaped, but was only able to get a finger on the ball this time, as the ball went down off the crossbar into the back of the net. The Ephs went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Eph sophomore goalkeeper
Ana Bozzi-Mackay was involved seven minutes after subbing on, coming out to claim a ball on the ground before a Tufts forward could run on to it. A minute later, Williams was on the attack as two corners came in, the second resulting in shots by
Elle Long and
Lily Mark, which were both saved.
The Ephs' defensive unit did well to weather a storm of Tufts pressure from the 55th to 60th minute.
Reece Willison and
Ava Simunovic were imperious as always, and senior
Meredith Tutun put in a hardworking performance at right back.
In the 62nd minute, Williams almost doubled their lead. A good
Brianna Wright dribble gave
Lily Mark the ball in the box, who crossed it in for Buckingham, whose shot was saved.
Someone did manage to score though, and unfortunately it was Tufts to equalize through Elsi Aires. Aires had threatened all game, and this goal was the definition of finesse. A cross from the left side found Aires who expertly volleyed into the right corner of Williams' net.
The next ten minutes were back-and-forth, with through balls and strong defending becoming the theme. Tufts pushed for the go-ahead goal, heading over from a corner in the 80th minute, but it was Williams who looked strongest as the game wound down.
With under five minutes on the clock, it looked like neither team would find a winner in what was a highly competitive NESCAC match up. Williams won a free kick wide on the left flank, and Burns, previously the scorer of a wonderful goal, stepped up to take it. The ball landed in a dangerous area and Huang, seemingly always at the right place at the right time, ran on to the ball and fired it in. The Williams bench and fan section roared as the ball hit the back of the net.
The Ephs took the lead and never let it go, lodging their first win of the season and a statement of intent to all of NESCAC.
After the match, Eph head coach
Sarah Raymond said: "It was quite a game. For this time of the year to play a game like that against Tufts who are one of the best teams in our conference, for us to have that sort of composure, and for us to dig deep when we lost our lead: I'm really proud. Kudos to Tufts, they pushed us and made it difficult. Just proud of my squad to get the kind of result we feel we are capable of."
When asked about that game winner, Raymond said: "I almost had a heart attack. It was awesome… so exciting."
Exciting indeed as the Ephs march on! After beating 4th ranked Tufts today they play again tomorrow at Springfield College.
