MEDFORD, Mass. - The Williams College women's soccer team topped Middlebury College 2-1 on Saturday evening, advancing to face the hosts Tufts University on Sunday at 3pm in the NESCAC Championship game.
Elle Long and Elizabeth Stophel each scored to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead before a late Panthers goal narrowed the lead, but strong play from goalkeeper Margaret Huelin helped Williams preserve the win.
For the Ephs, Sunday will mark the team's first appearance in the league final since 2018, having last captured the title the year before in 2017.
"I couldn't be happier for this team to be in the NESCAC final," said Head Coach Sarah Raymond. "They have worked so hard this year and have come up big time and time again and we're excited to play Tufts again.Â
"I thought we possessed so well tonight and as a team our defensive press was fantastic. It was a fun game overall and the team's energy and spirit were outstanding."
At the start of Saturday's game, Williams took control of possession early and kept Middlebury under pressure. In the 35th minute, the Ephs finally broke through after some excellent team play. Emmy Chung played a through ball for Stophel, who beat a defender and played a low cross to Long, who tucked home her first goal of the season and second of her career.
The Ephs extended the lead in the second half with Stophel again in the middle of the action. The sophomore scored her fifth of the season after dribbling through several defenders to find an open shot from 15 yards out.
Middlebury came alive after the Ephs' second goal and put Williams under pressure for the last 20 minutes of the game, forcing several saves from Huelin and clearances and headers from central defenders Paige Nelson and Reece Willison. Williams outshot Middlebury 15-10 in the game but the Panthers had an 8-7 advantage in shots in the second half.
A Middlebury goal with just under 90 seconds left in the game added some nerves to the match but the Ephs kept calm to advance to the championship.
Sunday's match will kick off at 3pm at Bello Field in Medford, with a live stream available.
