WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Senior captain
Kiki Higgins recorded a game-high three shots on goal for the No. 11-ranked Williams College field hockey team Sunday afternoon, but two third-quarter goals secured a 2-0 victory for No. 1 Christopher Newport University on Williamson Field in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
"It was the best game we have played all season," said head coach
Alix Barrale. "I am so proud of our team. It is always fun to see how we stack up against the top team in the nation."
Emily Evans was awarded a penalty corner for the Captains (13-0) with five minutes remaining in the third. She played a ball onto the stick of Courtney Hughlett, who slid a pass over to Avery Mast on the right side of the circle, and then the sophomore buried the game-winning tally untouched into the bottom left corner of the net.
Christopher Newport's second goal also came off a penalty corner, as the play began with an insert by Caroline Hughlett, and then Courtney Hughlett eluded an Ephs' defender with a strong move and buried a shot into the right side of the goal.
During the third minute of the first quarter, junior
Keira Harder blocked a ball in the circle, and then first-year
Katie Sigrist removed the danger with a strong clear. Higgins created a good scoring chance for the Ephs (6-5, 4-3 NESCAC) during the fifth minute, as she made a run down the side and into the circle, but her pass into the middle was cleared out by Christopher Newport's defense.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Ellie Smith made an elite stop in the eighth minute. Lindsey Loar played a ball that ended up on the stick of Gigi Stephan right in front of Smith, and then the Wayland, Massachusetts, native rushed out and disrupted the scoring opportunity with a decisive save. During the 18th minute, Mast sent a high shot with a great deal of velocity on net, but Smith used her blocker to keep the game scoreless.
Neither team attempted a penalty corner in the first half, and then the Ephs stood tall, effectively defending three penalty corners during the opening five minutes of the third quarter. Higgins ripped a shot off a long run down the right side of the field in the 36th minute and played a ball into the middle of the circle with six minutes left in the third, but both opportunities were cleared out by the Captains' defense.
The Ephs will compete against No. 2 Johns Hopkins University on Friday, Oct. 17, at 4:30 p.m. on Williamson Field.
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