MEDFORD, Mass. - Two first years stepped up for the Williams College women's soccer team Saturday, as
Maya Lloyd scored her second goal of the season and
Olivia Bevilacqua tallied her first collegiate point with an assist during a 2-1 loss at No. 18-ranked Tufts on Bello Field.
During the first half, the Ephs (1-1, 1-1 NESCAC) made some impressive defensive stands, as senior captain
Paige Nelson blocked a shot by Caroline Kelly from just outside the 18-yard box on the right side during the sixth minute. Senior goalkeeper
Margaret Huelin turned away an attempt heading toward the right post with a great deal of velocity by Reese Birch less than two minutes later.
During the 10th minute of play, junior
Reece Willison blocked a shot from Tufts' Emily Nicholas, and then junior
Kianna Porter quickly removed the danger from the box by clearing the ball. Williams opened the scoring in the 35th minute, as the unit drew a corner kick off a well executed give-and-go sequence with Bevilacqua and Lloyd. Bevilacqua played the corner into the box and sophomore
Elle Long got a head on it, and then Lloyd went up in the thick of the Jumbos' defense and headed the ball into the back of the net.
The Jumbos (1-0, 1-0 NESCAC) scored twice in the second half, with goals by Elsi Aires and Lena Sugrue in the 62nd and 67th minutes, respectively. In the 56th minute, Huelin made an impressive stop on a shot by Birch during a run down the right attacking side of the box. Huelin recorded six saves in the game.
Williams will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 13, as the Ephs compete against Little-Three rival Amherst on Hitchcock Field at noon.
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