Ephs hold off Tufts, 14-13
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — Williams College sophomore Whitney Kelly scored her fourth goal of the game with 3 minutes, 55 seconds left in the second half Saturday, snapping a 13-13 tie and lifting the Ephs to a 14-13 conference win over Tufts University at Renzie Lamb Field.
Williams was able to maintain possession for nearly all of the final 2:38 and ran out the clock on the Jumbos (1-1), who had rallied three times from four-goal deficits earlier in the contest.
The Ephs improved to 2-0 on the season. Their next game is March 23rd in West Palm Beach, Fla. Against regional rival Union. Game time is 1 p.m.
Tufts sophomore Emily Johnson also scored four goals in the contest, while teammate Alyssa Corbett racked up five assists, equaling the number registered by Williams senior Sarah Adkins.
“At halftime we talked mainly about our intensity,” Eph head coach Chris Mason said. “We needed to get it up a bit, offensively and defensively. Offensively, our intensity on our shooting wasn’t where we needed it to be – we did much better in the second half.”
Williams opened the second half with four consecutive goals to snap a 7-7 tie. Adkins set up teammates Tina Nawrocki and Sara duPont for the first two goals, and duPont then set up Kelly’s third goal of the game before an unassisted goal by Tracey Ferriter have the Ephs an 11-7 lead 3:58 into the half.
With 16:32 to go, Adkins set up Eph junior Britt Spackman, whose cut to the goal left her open. Spackman tucked a shot into the top right corner of the net for a 13-9 lead.
Tufts came roaring back with three goals over the next four minutes — two by Johnson — but did not tie the game until 6:55 remained, when junior Chrissie Attura found teammate Jenna Albelli unattended in front of the Ephs goal. Albelli beat Eph goalie Julia Schreiber low to knot the game at 13.
The game stayed tied until Kelly dashed in front of the net and received a pass from Adkins, quickly whipping a shot past Jumbo keeper Sara Bloom for the game-winner.
“She’s a fiery player,” Mason said of Kelly. “She has been so determined this year and is really contributing.”
Bloom finished the game with 14 saves, while Schreiber came up with 11 for the Ephs. Williams outshot the Jumbos, 36-30, in the contest.
Williams jumped out to 3-0 and 5-1 leads in the first half on two goals each by Whitney Thayer and Kelly. Tufts rallied and back-to-back goals from Johnson gave them a 7-6 lead, its only advantage of the game.
Tina Nawrocki had three goals for Williams, while duPont finished with two goals and two assists.
