Williams Women Win Over Springfield, Trinity
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HARTFORD, Conn. — Williams women's lacrosse (5-6, 2-5 NESCAC) beat NESCAC rival Trinity college (7- 5, 5-3 NESCAC) on Saturday with a final score 13-11, to extend their winning streak to three games.
Trinity scored the first goal of the game at 2:19, but the Ephs took no time to respond, scoring six goals in the next 10 minutes. However, the Bantams, playing at home, fought their way back scoring four goals off free-position shots before junior Julia Nawrocki put one in for Williams. Trinity scored once more with 56 seconds left on the clock to end the half with a 7-6 advantage to Williams.
Trinity scored a quick goal in the first minute of second half and tie the game at 7-7. However, Ephs sophomore Anne Marie Burke scored an unassisted goal 3 minutes later to regain the advantage. Trinity again answered back to tie the game at eight all before the Ehps went on a five-goal scoring streak to take a 13-8 lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Trinity's final surge was not enough to overtake the Ephs strong defensive play, the Ephs ended the game on top with a score of 13-11.
Sophomore Whitney Thayer scored four goals and senior Sarah Adkins had five assists to lead the Ephs offense. Junior Julia Nawrocki and sophomore Tina Nawrocki scored two goals each, and Burke, Tracey Ferriter, Allison Murray, and Sarah du Pont netted one apiece for Williams.
CJ Yanofsky was the Bantam's high scorer with five goals.
Freshman keeper Julia Schreiber turned aside nine shots for the Ephs while Michelle Smith had 10 saves for the Bantams.
Williams head coach Chris Mason said the Ephs' patience won them the game.
"We good tempo and were patient with the ball in the offensive end. They did not put a lot of pressure on us so we were able to take our time and wait for the right opportunities. We used our time well in the offensive end," he said.
Mason thought senior Sara du Pont played her best game of the season, contributing to the Ephs midfield play. "Sara got all the loose balls through the midfield and backed up her teammates well. She did all the little things right."
He also commended Thayer, Adkins, and Julia Nawrocki for the contributions to the offense and junior Lizzy Burns for her defensive play.
Williams Tops Springfield
WILLIAMSTOWN — The Ephs (6-6, 2-5 NESCAC) fended off Springfield's (8-6) second-half surge on Friday at home to win 12–8. The victory extended the Ephs' winning streak to four games.
Springfield's Jennifer Zubkus scored the first goal of the game at 27:34, but a minute later Williams senior Allison Murray put the Ephs on the board off a pass from senior Sarah Adkins.
Springfield scored again less than a minute later before sophomore Whitney Thayer converted on a pass from junior Britt Spackman to start a five-goal streak for the Ephs. Sophomore Tina Nawrocki scored the next two followed by Spackman and senior Sara du Pont.
The majority of the next 10 minutes were played in the midfield until Springfield's Sarah Dobson scored with 8:34 left on the clock to end the half 6-3 Ephs.
Springfield came out strong in the second half, scoring five goals in the first 10 minutes to take the lead 8-6. However, Williams fought back, shutting down the Springfield offense for the rest of the game.
Murray scored two goals and sophomore Alice Nelson scored one to regain the lead for the Ephs. After Thayer converted a free position attempt, the Ephs maintained control of the ball in settled offense to run down the clock. Sophomore Tracey Ferriter scored at 5:38, and junior Julia Nawrocki took advantage of an empty net with 38 seconds left in the game.
Lauren McAulay blocked 11 shots for Springfield, while freshman keeper Julia Schreiber made 7 saves for Williams. Head coach Chris Mason commended Schreiber for coming up with some big saves at the end of the game, and staying poised under pressure.
Mason was pleased with her team's play. "I’m really excited about this win. Springfield was a very good team," she said. "Both teams were coming off of big games the day before, but we played very well together today to come up with the win."
The Ephs' next contest is at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at NESCAC rival Connecticut College.
