NORTON, Ma – The Williams men's soccer team overcame a one
goal half-time deficit with three goals in the second half to snap
Wheaton College's five-game winning streak today in nonconference
play. The win improves the Ephs to 3-0, while the Lyons fell to
4-2-2.
The Ephs, coming off of a hard fought 2-0 victory over Connecticut
College yesterday, found themselves in another dog fight early on
in today's contest.
While the Ephs maintained a 5-3 shot advantage for the half, the
Lyons looks were far better, with freshman Josh Solomon firing a
near miss in the 26th minute and then making good two minutes later
with a powerful strike from the top of the box that passed the
outstretched hands of Eph keeper Andrew Graham (2 saves). The goal
marked the first point of the season where the Ephs found
themselves trailing.
However, Williams responded big in the second half, chalking up
three goals off of eleven shots and three corner kicks; the first
goal coming only five minutes into the half, off of senior Ryan
Pelletier's beautiful redirection of a corner from junior Sam
Empson. Pelletier and the Ephs weren't done however, as Pelletier's
through ball found a streaking Jay Ingram who notched the
game-winner with a bullet to the bottom right corner of the net in
the 75th minute. Senior Kit Fuderich added an unassisted goal in
the 83rd minute to put the game out of reach.
The Eph defense was equally impressive, holding the Lyons offense
to just two second-half shots and no corner kicks. "Im really proud
of our defensive performance today. They (Wheaton) made some
adjustments, and Conor (Smith) and Brian (Dolezal) really stepped
up and filled in for Will (Ford) and did a great job," remarked Eph
coach Mike Russo. Senior Captain Will Ford missed today's game
after being served a red card late in yesterday's victory over
Connecticut College.
The Ephs next test comes against regional power Western New
England College, coached by former Williams soccer standout Erin
Sullivan, Wednesday the 19th at 4:15 PM in Springfield, MA.
