WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College women's lacrosse moved to 4-1 in NESCAC and 7-2 overall after a 12-6 win over Bates College on Saturday afternoon at Farley-Lamb Field. Goalie Charlotte Cote made several big interceptions and eight saves, including several important stops in the second half, paving the way for the Ephs' offense to put the game away.
Senior Katy McCullough had a season's best four goals, leading all scorers, and classmate Franny Donohue scored three and added three assists to pace the team's attack. Reece Willison had two goals, Sydney Puntus had a goal and two assists, and Ainsley Abel and Ella Ryan each scored once.
The Bobcats were the first team to get on the board, scoring 2:49 into the game, but Donohue's first goal three minutes later tied the game. The Ephs took a 2-1 lead with just 51 seconds left in the opening session in a quiet first quarter.
The hosts added two more goals - from Abel and McCullough - to go up 4-1 midway through the second quarter, but Bates got both goals back and the teams headed into halftime with the Ephs holding a narrow one-goal lead.
Bates threatened to tie the game as soon as the second half started, but Cote caused a turnover after the Bobcats gained possession to start the half, and then made a big save at the 11:30 mark to keep the Ephs ahead. McCullough then scored with 10:01 left from a free position, and then scored again off an assist from Donohue at 8:21. The Ephs fully took control of the momentum about two minutes later when Ella Ryan scored her only goal of the game in a player-down situation, giving Williams a 7-3 lead.
Despite scoring two more goals late in the third and one midway through the fourth quarter, Bates could not get any closer than trailing 8-5, and the Ephs scored the game's final three goals to wrap up the win. In addition to her eight saves, Cote picked up four ground balls - tied for the team lead with Kiki Higgins and Katie Fitzgerald - and caused two turnovers. Meaghan Day and Anna Miller each caused three turnovers as the Ephs' tenacious defense - causing 19 turnovers compared to Bates' seven - kept Williams in control.
The Ephs face a tough test this Wednesday, visiting one of Division III's top teams in Tufts University, in a game that starts at 4pm in Medford. The team will be back at Farley-Lamb Field on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30pm to face Westfield State.
