Box Score MEDFORD - Despite a dominant second half, the 6-5-1 Jumbos were unable to complete a comeback against 11-1 Williams College, who now improves to 6-1 in the NESCAC. Kristi Kirshe scored the lone goal in the 1-0 victory, notching her ninth goal of the season. The Ephs have had Tufts' number during the beginning of this millenium. Since 1999, the Jumbos have gone 2-11-3 against Williams.
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| Jess Capone created several of the Jumbos' scoring chances |
The Ephs controlled much of the play during the first stanza. The striker Kirshe sent a nice pass through the midfield to space for fellow forward and the conference's leading scorer Audrey Thomas to run on to, but her shot didn't have enough power on it to challenge goalkeeper Eileen McGarry.
But less than five minutes in, the Ephs capitalized on the Jumbos' slow start. Midfielder Mai Mitsuyama, who worked diligently down the right wing all game, played a give and go with Thomas and eventually sent a well-hit cross that dropped right into the six where Kirshe was able to get a foot on it and knock it into the right corner of the net. The goal tied Kirshe with teammate Thomas for first in the NESCAC in points with 21. It was Mitsuyama's fourth assist on the season.
Later in the half, Thomas sent a great ball to the foot of a wide open forward Crystal Lewin, but her shot clanged off the crossbar and her second attempt sailed over the net. To close out the half, Kirshe made a strong run down the middle of the field taking advantage of a miscommunication by Tufts defenders and she was able to find Thomas, but McGarry did well to come out and challenge Thomas by cutting off any angles she had for the shot. The Ephs had several chances to pull away, but the score remained 1-0 at the break.
The second half featured a reinvigorated Tufts team that attacked the goal often and threatened to tie the score several times. After a Jess Capone shot was blocked out of bounds, the ensuing corner kick proved to be a dangerous opportunity for Tufts. Catharine Greer was on the receiving end of Carla Kruyff's corner, but her header was halted by Ephs goalkeeper Hannah Van Wetter who held her position tight at the near post. However, Van Wetter wasn't able to corral it and the rebound landed at the foot of Mariah Harvey-Brown, but her attempt was also vanquished by the keeper.
Williams' best chance of the second half came on a through ball from middie Evan Gancedo which Thomas won the race to after she did well to run horizontally to stay onsides. However, McGarry came out to meet the ball and disrupted the attempt as Thomas' shot went wide.
Tufts had another stellar chance when Capone struck a lofted ball from well beyond the 18, but it smacked off the crossbar.
Tufts turned on the offensive pressure and had eight corner kicks and ten shots in the second half, compared to two corners and five shots in the first. Shot totals were knotted at fifteen apiece and Tufts held the edge in corners, ten to seven.
McGarry made five stops, while Van Wetter had four.
The Jumbos are now tied for eighth place in the NESCAC, while Williams stays in the second spot. Tufts returns to action on Tuesday against non-conference opponent UMass-Boston at 3pm.
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