Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN - Tufts University women's soccer faced off against conference opponent and No. 3 ranked Williams College this afternoon on Cole Field. The Ephs remained undefeated after winning the contest 3-0.
The Ephs move to 13-0-1 overall and are 8-0-1 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Tufts moves to 7-4-3 overall and are 5-2-2 in the conference. Williams College clinched first place in the NESCAC standings with the victory.
The Jumbos controlled possession in the first half with strong play from the midfielders as they prevented penetration from the Ephs' offensive line. Near the midway point of the first half, the Ephs created chances to break the scoreless tie. Senior Natasha Albaneze took a free kick and chipped the ball past the Jumbo backline where junior midfielder Natalie Turner-Wyatt was there, but sent the ball wide.
Tufts threated to break the tie in the 24th minute as freshman forward Liz Reed took a shot from a cross. Eph junior goalkeeper Olivia Barnhill made a save and freshman forward Sophie Lloyd was in position to collect the rebound, but Williams tri-captain Danielle Sim was there to clear the ball.
The scoreless tie was broken in the 28th minute when freshman midfielder Aspen Pierson made a strong run along the right wing and sent a cross to junior Kristina Alvarado who shot the ball deflecting off of a Jumbo defender and into the net to put Williams up 1-0. Pierson nearly doubled the lead minutes later, when she hit a powerful shot from distance. The ball bounced off the crossbar and nearly went over the goal line, but Tufts junior goalkeeper Emily Bowers kept it out. At the half, the Ephs led 1-0.
Williams College sophomore Alison Lu created opportunities in the second half as she collected two assists. In the 62nd minute, Lu made a run down the middle and found senior tri-captain Evan Gancedo on the right edge of the box where she took the shot past the goalkeeper to put the Ephs up 2-0. Two minutes later in the 64th minute, Lu curled the ball past the Tufts back line where Alvarado got on the other end of the pass and sunk her second goal of the day.
The Jumbos had a late chance in the 83rd minute, when senior forward Mariah Harvey-Brown got a touch on a ball played into the box. Her shot went wide however, and Williams finished the match with a 3-0 shutout, its 11th of the season.
Williams outshot the Jumbos 14-10 yet the corner kick battle was tied at four. The Jumbos committed 16 fouls to the Ephs' six.
Tufts junior goalkeeper Emily Bowers (7-4-3) made three saves while the Ephs junior goalkeeper Olivia Barnhill (12-0-1) made one save in the win. Sophomore goalkeeper Whitney Lincoln was the substitute and played for eight minutes to secure the 3-0 win.
Williams College will be playing in their final regular season game on Tuesday at Middlebury at 3 p.m. The Jumbos will be playing in their final regular season game on Tuesday at home on Kraft Field against Bowdoin at 3 p.m.
With 17 points in NESCAC play, the Jumbos have already secured a home-field berth into the conference tournament which begins next Saturday.
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Parts of this release courtesy of Williams College
Written by Colin Mason, Athletic Communications Intern
