Ephs secure outright Little 3 MLAX title for the first time since 1999 with 9-5 win at Wesleyan
MIDDLETOWN, CT. - The Williams College men's lacrosse team blew open a tight match with four unanswered scores to start the 2nd half en route to defeating NESCAC foe Wesleyan 9-5 Saturday.
After a rocky start to the season, in which the Ephs (7-5 overall, 5-3 NESCAC) won just one of their first six games, Williams has righted the ship with six straight wins going into the regular season finale at Middlebury.
The latest victory comes against a very formidable Wesleyan team, which was denied its 11th win of the season and instead suffered just their third loss.
Williams won in Middletown for the first time since 2000. Combined with its 8-4 victory over Amherst earlier this year, Williams claimed its first outright Little Three crown since 1999 and denied Wesleyan at least a piece of the Little Three title for the first time in 10 years.
Williams goalkeeper Michael Gerbush, who has been instrumental in the Ephs late season charge, again turned in a stellar performance. Gerbush stopped thirteen shots in the net and helped negate a sizeable Cardinal shot advantage (Williams: 22, Wesleyan 37).
Sam Hargrove put in two goals and two assists, while Tommy Murray added a goal and a pair of assists to pace the Ephs offense in the win.
The Cardinals struck first, taking a one goal lead just under eight minutes in, but the Ephs managed to tie it up at 2-2 by the end of the first quarter.
The Ephs would take their first lead of the game with just five minutes remaining in the half, but the Cardinals answered a minute later to knot it back up. However, Richard Reuter would give the Ephs the lead for good with just 17 seconds remaining in the half.
Reuter would score again three minutes into the third to initiate the second half charge that ultimately secured the Williams Victory. David Hawley, Michael Aclerno, and Sam Hargrove would each contribute a goal in that stretch.
The Ephs will travel to Middlebury to face off against the Panthers in both teams regular season finale. That game will be played next Friday, April 24th, at 4:30.
