Ephs use three second half goals to defeat Keene State, 3-0
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An unrelenting attacking front proved to be the key to victory, as three second half scores put away Keene State (12-5) on a cold and wet afternoon match up on Cole Field. It is the twelfth straight victory for the Eph's, and their fourth consecutive shutout.
"I liked the result certainly, but I liked the ideas we had more," said Williams' head coach Michelyne Pinard. "We were attacking the best we have all year, and to rebound from a tough past weekend like that was great."
Williams out shot Keene State 20-2 in the first period, and 32-4 overall. Dominating time on the ball, the Eph's managed to shoot the ball every place but inside the net. Countless balls sailed over the crossbar, others missed the post by inches. To the opposition's credit, the Owl's Sam Hirsh had 6 of her 9 saves in the first half all of which were clutch stops that kept Keene State in contention for some time.
Finally, the undiscouraged home team converted minutes into the start of the second half. At 49:32, Jackie Russo played the ball up the middle and proceeded to cross the ball to Gabrielle Woodson on the right wing. Woodson lined the ball into the far left post for the 1-0 lead, and her team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Williams avoided a third straight 1-0 result at 71:27. Annelise Snyder capitalized off a well-directed header from Bret Eisenhart. Eisenhart scored the third goal of the game at the 83:44 mark off a loose ball. Collecting off the deflection, the Williams freshman ripped a shot from just outside the penalty box.
Keene State's best opportunity to score came in the first half with twelve minutes to play. After Williams was called for a handball in front of the net, Keene had a chance at net but Katie Bradford's shot sailed wide past the left corner of the goal.
Williams will look to continue their aggressive attack against Amherst on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Amherst is currently ranked #9 in the national rankings, while the Eph's remain at #1 in the standings.
"It's a game we love to play," said Pinard, on the Williams-Amherst rivalry. "We have worked hard all season long to have this opportunity, and we will enjoy every moment of it."
