AMHERST, Mass. - Junior
Claire Colvin scored the game-winning tally in the first quarter and senior captain
Pilar Torres added a second-half insurance goal, as the No. 5-ranked Williams College field hockey team defeated Little Three rival and No. 11 Amherst, 2-0, on Saturday at Hill Field.
The Ephs (3-1, 2-0 NESCAC) defeated the Mammoths (3-1, 1-1 NESCAC) for the fourth consecutive time, which includes a thrilling 2-1 victory during the 2022 NESCAC Quarterfinals in Amherst, Massachusetts. Saturday's win also marked the third straight shutout victory for Williams over Amherst.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Ellie Smith, who earned her second shutout of the season, set the tone by making an outstanding save on a shot by Molly Donegan from close range less than two minutes into the game.
The Ephs opened the scoring during the fifth minute, as senior
Anna Miller applied pressure in the Ephs' offensive end and stole a pass. She proceeded to play a ball into the circle, and then senior captain
Kiki Higgins redirected the pass to Colvin, who tipped a shot over the shoulder of Mammoths' goalkeeper Grace Puchalski.
Smith came up clutch again in the final moments of the first half, as she made a tremendous stop on a rocket by Bella Kim with just over four minutes remaining. On the ensuing scrum, the Wayland, Massachusetts, native made a diving clear with the ball in a dangerous area inside the circle.
The Ephs added some breathing room with 4:51 left in the third quarter off a penalty corner, as first-year
Katie Sigrist recorded her first collegiate point with an assist. She floated a ball directly in front of the net and Torres, who took the penalty corner, went into the thick of the action and netted a goal from point-blank range.
"It was a great team win," said head coach
Alix Barrale. "I am so proud of our sustained effort. Pilar and Ellie were outstanding in the defensive circle.
Grace Rebak and
Keira Harder were crucial in defensive marking and steps to the ball."
Smith made three stops in the victory, while Higgins, Colvin, Torres, Sigrist, junior
Laura Ryan and senior
Chloe Bush all registered one shot on goal.
Williams will be back in action on Wednesday, as it hosts Smith on Williamson Field at 6:30 p.m.
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