Williams Claims 4-1 Victory Over Middlebury in Semifinals of Women's Soccer Championship
Courtesy Williams Sports Information
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Top seeded Williams College (15-0-0) defeated sixth seeded Middlebury College (9-5-2), 4-1, in the semifinals of the 2007 NESCAC Women's Soccer Championship. Ephs forwards Brianna Wolfson and Gabrielle Woodson each scored two goals en route to the victory, while Middlebury's Caitlin Parker notched the lone goal for the Panthers.
Williams and Middlebury faced off in the regular season on October 13. The Ephs defeated the Panthers by a score of 4-0, but Middlebury battled Williams to a stalemate until the 55th minute before the Ephs broke the game open with four goals in a 14:23 span. This afternoon's match up was another very physical battle, as both emotionally charged teams combined for 20 total fouls. This time Williams did not wait long before getting on the scoreboard though.
At the 5:38 mark, Wolfson scored the first of her two goals. After diverting a Panthers defender and causing Middlebury's keeper to come out of net, Wolfson kicked a line drive shot to the far right post past the charging keeper to give the Ephs the early lead. Less than twenty minutes later Wolfson tallied her second goal off a cross from Sara Wild. Wild crossed the ball from the right side of the field to Wolfson who, playing the ball of a bounce, laced a hard ground ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Williams set the pace early in the second half as well, tallying their third goal just three minutes into the second period. Woodson scored the first of her two goals off a breakaway. Woodson and nd Wolfson notched the Ephs final goal off one of their trademark give and go plays. Both players finished the game with two goal and an assist.
It looked as though Williams would shut out Middlebury for the second time this season, but the Panthers would not back down and managed to avoid the shutout with five minutes left in play. Caitlin Parker kicked a perfectly placed line drive from outside the penalty box that landed in the upper right corner to bring the final score to 4-1.
Ephs keeper Lauren Sinnenberg gave up only her third goal of the entire season, and recorded 4 saves. The Panthers' keeper, Lauryn Torch, notched four saves in ninety minutes of play.
Williams advances to the finals and will play Bowdoin game tomorrow at 12:00 noon.
