WASHINGTON, DC — Catholic University scored a late goal and won a defensive battle with Williams College Tuesday, 7-6.
Williams fell to 2-3 overall with the loss. The Ephs will play Buffalo State at Goucher College in Maryland Thursday. Game time is set for 11 a.m. The Cardinals improved to 3-5.
Williams took an early lead in the game when senior Tina Nawrocki scored off a pass from Meera Sivaligam just 1 minute and 34 seconds into the contest. The two teams traded the lead three times, and Catholic took a 5-3 on Caroline Taltavull's goal with 7:16 remaining in the half.
Williams fought back however, getting an unassisted goal from Sivalingam and then tying the game 5-5 when Margie Fulton converted a pass from Kaitlin Ellis with 4:36 to go before halftime. Neither team could convert late opportunities in the half and the game remained tied at the break.
It wasn't until 14:58 remained in the contest that Williams would break the tie on a goal by Nawrocki, off another assist from Ellis. This time it would be the Cardinals who came back, tying the game just 14 seconds later on an unassisted tally from Meghan Brady. The next 11 minutes was a tense back-and-froth affair, with both Williams goalie Julia Schreiber and Cardinal keeper Melissa Brashear coming up with key saves.
Catholic called a timeout after causing a turnover in the Williams end and, when play resumed, Kelly Ryan flicked a pass from Katie Buonpastore for a 7-6 with 3:14 left. That's the way the game ended, with Catholic possessing the ball over much of the final 1:14.
The Ephs lost despite outshooting Catholic, 24-23. The Cardinals controlled the advantage in groundballs (17-14) and draw controls (10-5). Schreiber finished with 11 saves for the Ephs, while Brashear made 13 for Catholic.
