Newport News, VA - The Williams College Ephs (2-4) traveled to Newport to play the #4 Christopher Newport University Captains (9-1). It has felt like every game has been a battle for the Ephs this season, with games always going to the very end before being decided and today was no different. There were no big leads, and it came down to the very last minute before CNU ended up winning 12-11.
Another battle is exactly what the Ephs had on their hands today. The only 2 goal lead in the first half came in the final minute of the second quarter and lasted for less than sixty seconds. CNU started off the scoring, but a quick response came off the stick of Will Doran with an assist by Ryan Nagel. The next five minutes were huge for Williams' defense who weathered the storm and kept this game at just 1 goal apart. Drew Nicholson found a ground ball drove clear up to the offense where Seamus Regan slotted one home off a great pass from Harrison Cross. Will Doran and Matthew Johnson found the next 2 goals for Williams, giving them the lead as the first quarter wound down.
It was nothing but back-and-forth ball for the first twelve minutes of the second. CNU was the first to break the standoff, but Jesse Shapiro and Ryan Nagel connected for a sub-sixty second response. Only a minute later, coming off a great pick from Seamus Reagan, Harrison Cross, rolling over the top, stepped in and drove one home for the first 2-goal lead of the afternoon. CNU somehow managed to find the back of the net with just .7 seconds left to bring the score back within one, but with the Ephs leading 6-5.
CNU found their first 2-goal lead of the afternoon early in the third quarter, but there was no chance the Ephs were going anywhere. Harrison Cross scored off a great ball from Jesse Shapiro to get the first and then Shapiro, roles reversed, pocketed the 8th Williams goal to even it out. Cross and Doran came together again, before Shapiro and Cross connected to give the Ephs a 10-9 lead going into the final quarter of the day.
Seamus Regan had a great look off the start, taking the 1v2 and driving the crease to bury the first, but it was denied as the refs said the sophomore stepped in the crease. Eph goalie Matt Wetmore then had one of his best saves of the day off a jump shot from a CNU forward. Credit to the CNU goaltender, who in an effort to get the ball over the midline, actually managed to get a shot on net and tie this game at 10. A crazy ground ball pickup from Jesse Shapiro, found him dancing through the midfield and connected with Harrison Cross to tie game at 11. The Williams midfield kept coming up huge as the quarter was winding down. They just kept shutting down the clear attempts by the Captains and giving the Ephs a chance back on offense. With four minutes to go, CNU was forced to take a timeout after a shot rang off the pipe and the Captain's defense was looking tired. Despite an amazing last minute effort, the Ephs fell 12-11.
Eph head oach George McCormack had this to say after the game, "I was very happy with the way our team competed today on the road vs the #4 team in the country. It was back and forth the entire game and unfortunately we came up a goal short. Even though we lost, I feel it was one of most competitive games we've put together all year. Our defense, offense and special situations did some great things that we can build on going forward."
