Ephs surrender late goal to Springfield, settle for 2-2 double-overtime tie
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Williams College men's soccer team
surrendered the game tying goal with just under three minutes to
play in regulation before battling Springfield College to a
double-overtime 2-2 stalemate Wednesday night.
The tie represents the first draw of the season for the Ephs --
whose overall record advances to 7-2-1 (4-1 NESCAC), while the
Springfield College Pride move to 5-6-2.
The late equalizer came with just 2:27 remaining off of a
sensational run by Springfield forward Tip Nolan that culminated in
a blast from 25 yards out. The late score was made ever more
dramatic because it came at the end of a half that was otherwise
dominated by the Ephs, who not only erased a one goal deficit, but
captured the lead all while limiting the Pride to just one second
half shot up to that point.
The Ephs tallied more shots (Williams: 19, Springfield: 12) and
corners (Williams: 8, Springfield: 5) while also drawing more fouls
(Williams: 10, Sprinfield: 13) than their opponent, but the Pride's
ability to bookend the scoring proved to be enough on this
night.
Springfield jumped out to the early 1-0 lead just 1:54 into the
game off of a goal by Scott Swanekemp, and was able to hold that
advantage till intermission. However, it took the Ephs just five
minutes to make it 1-1 in the second period, when Peter Gordon
knocked home a shot from point-blank range for the score -- his
third in the last two games.
The Ephs would notch the go ahead score with just under ten
minutes remaining. This time after a Pierre Meloty-Kapella header
narrowly was rejected by the cross bar, only to bounce directly to
Conor Smith, who ripped a shot into the upper right hand corner
from within the six-yard box to give the Ephs their first lead of
the contest.
Unfortunately for the Ephs, the lead would be short-lived as
Nolan's goal would finalize the scoring just eight minutes
later.
The Ephs will not have long to rest, as they gear up for this
Saturday's trip to Tufts. That game will be played at 2:30 PM.
