Ursula Alwang – Nothing But NESCAC

All Chalk? Women’s Soccer Semifinal/Final Preview

All Chalk? Women’s Soccer Semifinal/Final Preview

Last weekend’s quarterfinal matchups saw each of the top four seeds secure berths to the next round, setting up what should be yet another entertaining weekend of postseason fútbol. I feel pretty confident predicting Williams, Middlebury, Amherst and Tufts will earn NCAA Tournament spots; the first three teams are ranked #2, #6 and #15 (respectively) in the Top 25 rankings, and Tufts checks in as the #5 team in the New England Regional Rankings. A NESCAC Championship certainly wouldn’t hurt to add to any of these team’s respective résumés come seeding time, and it’s fair to say all four of the contenders will fancy their chances to snag the coveted trophy. Without further ado, let’s give our final four a proper introduction.

Saturday, November 3rd (Semifinal #1 @ Williamstown, Mass): #1 Williams vs. #4 Tufts

How did they get here:

#1 Williams secured their fifth straight regular season title with a 1-0 win against Middlebury. There was no letdown with these ladies, as they dispatched #8 Colby in the quarterfinals relatively easily by a tune of 3-1. The Ephs outshot the Mules 27-4, as three different players found the net. Georgia Lord ‘21 got things started early in the 9th minute, and Sarah Scire ‘20 doubled Williams’ lead shortly afterwards. Nkem Iregbulem’s ‘20 long range missile all but sealed the deal, ensuring the Ephs would advance to the semifinals.

I’ll admit, I had the Jumbos pegged for a potential upset given how they finished the regular season. Back-to-back losses, including the most recent one to Bowdoin, indicated that maybe this Tufts team could be headed for an early exit. A matchup with Wesleyan proved to be the perfect remedy for a squad who needed to iron out their kinks, and fast. Sunday’s 2-0 win was essentially a carbon copy of their regular season meeting; the Jumbos scored a goal in each half (this time thanks to Liz Reed ‘21), and limited Wesleyan to a mere three shot attempts. That’s the kind of dominating performance a mid-seeded team needs in order to gain confidence heading into a matchup with arguably the best team in the entire country.

Williams X-Factor: F Sydney Jones ‘21

Jones started the season on a tear, scoring six goals in Williams’s first six games; however, she’s gone on a cold streak since then, tallying just three goals in her last twelve matches.

Jones did score the lone goal in Williams’s 1-0 victory in Medford a few weeks prior and will look to break through once again against a defense that just stifled Wesleyan, who finished fourth in the ‘CAC in goals scored.

Tufts X-Factor(s): F Sophie Lloyd ‘21 and F Liz Reed ‘21

Both of these ladies deserve praise for the work they’ve done this season. Tufts’s offense would struggle mightily if it wasn’t for them, as the two have combined to score nearly half of the Jumbo’s conference goals. In this instance, one of them playing well will not be suffice enough to defeat Williams. Lloyd and Reed will both have to create multiple scoring chances in order for Tufts to spring the upset.

Preview and Prediction

2006. That’s the last time the Jumbos defeated the Ephs. Since then, Williams has won every single matchup sans a 0-0 tie in 2010. Throw in a few postseason encounters, and you get thirteen losses in fourteen games. Last season, the Jumbos were oh-so-close to getting the monkey of their backs, but fell in a heartbreaker to Williams in the NESCAC Championship, conceding the game-tying goal in the 81st minute and the winner in the 94th.

Both teams employ a defense-first style, frustrating opposing coaches with suffocating ball pressure; however, the offense, at times, can disappear. This is especially true for Tufts, who scored a mere eleven goals in their ten conference games and had the third-worst shooting percentage during the regular season. One glimmer for hope, however, is that when Tufts does score, it’s a collective effort. Although Lloyd and Reed are usually the main contributors, the Jumbos have generated a second-best 10 assists on conference goals season, and this type of ball movement will be crucial in order to break down the best defense in the NESCAC.

Usually I like revenge spots, but there’s just no way I can go against the Ephs. Talent-wise, they’re head and shoulders above the Jumbos, and William’s impenetrable back line has given up just four goals in conference play. Sure Colby found the net this past weekend, but the Ephs already had that game well in hand. Olivia Barnhill ‘19 is the best goalkeeper in the league, and I’m banking on the senior having yet another superb game. With home-field advantage for the regular season champions, I like Williams to win convincingly. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, the streak lives on.

Prediction: Williams 2-0 Tufts

Saturday, November 3rd (Semifinal #2 @ Williamstown, Mass): #2 Middlebury vs. #3 Amherst

How did they get here:

On Saturday’s lone fixture, 2nd-seeded Middlebury defeated the 7th-seeded Polar Bears 1-0. They say the final score is all that matters, but the stats indicate some concerns for this Panther squad. After Eliza Robertson ‘21 scored the game’s lone goal in the 19th minute, the Polar Bears proceeded to dominate the ball, desperately looking for an equalizer. Eva Shaw ‘20 recorded a career high 10 saves, bailing out the Panther defense time and time again. Bowdoin ended up outshooting the Panthers 19-10; maybe the Panthers were looking ahead, but if they replicate this performance on Saturday, the team will board their bus back to Vermont earlier than previously anticipated.

The Mammoths also endured a tight contest with 6th-seeded Hamilton, holding on for a 1-0 victory. Goal-scoring machine Rubii Tamen ‘19 scored for the fourth consecutive game, and Antonia Tammaro ‘21 made a spectacular save in the second half to preserve the shutout. The Mammoth defense has bounced back nicely since allowing a season-high three goals to Wesleyan, producing back-to-back shutouts. Granted, Trinity and Hamilton don’t even come close to Middlebury in terms of offensive productivity, but it’s surely a positive sign as we trek deeper into postseason play.

Middlebury X-Factor: F Eliza Van Voorhis ‘21

On a team loaded with offensive talent, Van Voorhis might be the best of the bunch. She leads the Panthers in goals and SOG, and Middlebury is undefeated this season when Van Voorhis finds the back of the net. She disappeared in last weekend’s quarterfinal against Bowdoin (0 SOG), and the Panthers will need Van Voorhis to, at the very least, be more involved in the flow of the game in order to move past Amherst. I expect a bounce back performance from the rising star.

Amherst X-Factor: GK Antonia Tammaro ‘21

Tammaro took over the starting keeper role after Amherst’s 3-1 loss to Middlebury, and she hasn’t looked back. Tammaro is just behind Barnhill in both save percentage and goals allowed per game. She had one hiccup in a 3-2 loss to Wesleyan, but has since responded well, making a combined 10 saves in their past two victories. It’s a tall task for any goalkeeper to keep the Panthers from finding the back of the net more than once, but if Tammaro can limit the Panthers to, at worst, a single goal, then she’ll give her offense a very good chance of springing the mini upset.

Preview and Prediction:

When these two met back in September, the score (3-1 Middlebury) did not indicate how close the game really was. The Mammoths actually held a slight shot advantage of 19-18, parlayed with a significant edge in corners (7-2). Moreover, Amherst was in the middle of a goalie conundrum as the former starter, Erica Sanders ‘20, conceded all three goals in 70 minutes of play. Amherst is a tough matchup for the Panthers; Tamen and the rest of the offense certainly have the capability to trade offensive blows with Middlebury. On the flip side, Amherst has proven it can irritate opposing offenses with a solid back line.

I’ve made it a point to make the Middlebury offense a focal point of the article, and for good reason: they’re the only NESCAC team averaging over two goals per game, and have assisted on 18 of their 25 conference goals. It’s a well-oiled machine that, when functioning up to their capability, is nearly impossible to play catch-up with. The Panthers didn’t earn the #2 seed based solely on their offensive skills, however; they sneakily have the second-best defense in the ‘CAC. Ursula Alwang ‘20 is an extremely talented goalkeeper in her own right, and had a spectacular performance against Amherst in their prior matchup, recording eight saves. However, she has not played in the past four games, with Eva Shaw stepping up in her absence.

The Panther offense has been quiet in their past two games, and they’re due for an explosion. Amherst will make some noise early, but Middlebury will tighten up when they need to. Then, that potent offense will take over and propel this team to victory, setting up a date with Williams.

Prediction: Middlebury 3-2 Amherst

We’re not done yet folks!

There’s still a championship game to be played following the completion of the semifinal matches. Thus, we’re giving readers a two-for-one special and providing a brief championship prediction. Hopefully I correctly predicted the two finalists or else this will blow up in my face.

Sunday, November 4th (@ Williamstown, Mass): #1 Williams vs. #2 Middlebury

This is the rematch NESCAC followers want; a titanic battle between the top two heavyweights of the league. A few weeks prior, Williams and Middlebury faced off in the regular season finale to decide who would claim the regular season title. It was Williams who prevailed on their home soil, stymying the Middlebury attack en route to a 1-0 victory. The Panthers outplayed the Ephs, holding an edge in shots (9-4). The lone goal was scored off a beautiful free kick from Aspen Pierson ‘21, bending the ball around the wall and past Shaw.

Having the best defense in the league certainly helps when you’re trying to contain the NESCAC’s best offense. The great Bear Bryant once said “defense wins championships”; I beg to differ for the sake of this article. The Panthers know they’re the better team, and once they skate by Amherst, they’ll be licking their chops at the opportunity to dethrone Williams on their own soil.

Moreover, Williams lost in the NESCAC tournament in 2014, won it all in 2015, lost in 2016, and won it again in 2017. This pattern of results is screaming for me to pick Middlebury, so I can’t just buck the trend now.

Prediction: Middlebury 2-1 Williams

Anyone Besides Williams?: NESCAC Women’s Soccer Power Rankings

NESCAC Women’s Soccer Power Rankings

Sydney Jones ‘21 torching Trinity defenders

Williams: 5-0 (3-0)

The Ephs not only sit atop our inaugural NESCAC Women’s Soccer Power Rankings, but also claim the #1 ranking in the entire country. Even with the graduation of three First Team All-NESCAC honorees, Williams returns the bulk of their roster with expectations to repeat as national champions. Last year’s leading goal scorer Alison Lu ’20 has yet to play this season (due to an injury?), but forward Sydney Jones ’21 has single-handily carried the offense in her absence, accounting for more than half of the team’s goals. Despite the perfect start, however, the Ephs have had close encounters in some of their earlier conference games; for example, a 1-0 home victory over lowly Colby is a pretty disappointing result considering the talent discrepancy between the two schools. While Williams may not be necessarily dominating its opponents, this is the most talented team in the ‘CAC and certainly the favorite to repeat as NESCAC/NCAA Champions.

Up Next: The Ephs begin a four-game road trip this Saturday, starting in Amherst to take on the Mammoths in what should present a nice challenge for Williams. The following day, they travel north to face weaker opponent in Bates; however, the Bobcats were able to escape Williamstown with a draw last year, so the Ephs cannot afford to take them lightly.

Middlebury: 5-0 (2-0)

The Panthers kicked off their 2018 NESCAC campaign in impressive fashion, shutting out Conn College on the road before heading home and snagging a hard-fought 3-1 win against Amherst. In my book, that’s two wins against teams that will finish in the top half of the standings when it’s all said and done. Middlebury features a balanced offense attack, headlined by Leah Salzman ’21 and Sabrina Glaser ’20. Glaser was particularly affective against the Mammoths, finding the net twice after the Mammoths took a 1-0 lead early in the first half. Goalkeeper Ursula Alwang ’20 has been phenomenal in their two conference games, saving 19/20 shots on goal.

Up Next: Middlebury has a home date with Bowdoin on Saturday, followed by a short road trip to Hamilton on Sunday. A sweep of their weekend matches would bode extremely well in hopes of keeping pace with Williams, as the hunt for the regular season title intensifies in the coming weeks.

Tufts: 5-0 (3-0)

Coach Martha Whiting couldn’t have scripted a better start for the Jumbos. An undefeated start to the season is impressive enough, but to be the only team in the ‘CAC thus far to not allow a single goal is a remarkable achievement. Last year’s First Team All-NESCAC goalkeeper Emily Bowers ’19 headlines the Jumbo’s impenetrable back wall, which has shut out the likes of Colby, Wesleyan and Bates. Granted, these three teams aren’t exactly the cream of the crop in the NESCAC, but 3-0 is 3-0. Sophie Lloyd ’21 has tallied six goals in her first three games, but missed the last two against Wesleyan and Bates (once again assuming an injury here).

Up Next: The Jumbos are off this week in terms of conference games, with a match against Brandeis on Sunday. Hopefully Lloyd will be deemed fit for next weekend’s date with Amherst, as this will be Tufts’ first real test in conference play.

Amherst: 4-1 (1-1)

The Mammoths check in at number four on this week’s power rankings due to an offense that has weapons all across the pitch; headlined by forward Rubii Tamen ’20, Amherst has six players who have registered two goals or more this season. Even in their 3-1 loss to Middlebury, the Mammoths outshot the Ephs, signifying a closer game between the two than the final score indicated. Amherst has the toughest schedule in September, with contests against the three top teams in the league (Williams and Tufts remain, as they already played Middlebury).

Up Next: Amherst’s date with Williams could be a defining point for both teams, but is definitely more important for the Mammoths. A win on their own turf would have this squad at 2-1 before a road trip to Tufts the following week; a loss on Saturday and the Mammoths could potentially be facing a 1-3 start in conference play.

Hamilton: 2-1-1 (2-1)

When will Hamilton start converting shots into goals?

The Continentals are a usual middle-of-the-pack team that might finally break through and cause some havoc in league play. They gave the Ephs a scare in their close 2-1 loss, and followed up that performance with two wins against Bates and Trinity. More impressive, they allowed a total of nine combined shots against the Bobcats and Bantams, and fired a whopping 65 shots! I’m all about a good ratio and that’s as solid as they come. The one concern I have is not the offensive capability the Continentals possess, but whether they can cash more of those shots into goals. They’ve taken 100 shots in their five regular season games, but only five goals have come from that – a ratio that is dead last in the NESCAC.

Up Next: Hamilton has a tough conference slate this weekend; first, they host Conn College, whom they have not beaten in five years (three losses, two draws). It doesn’t get any easier the next day, when Middlebury visits Clinton with revenge on their mind after the Continentals upset the Panthers in the quarterfinals of last year’s NESCAC Tournament. A split would be a nice result, but an unbeaten weekend would send a message to the rest of the ‘CAC that Hamilton can hang with the big boys.

Connecticut College: 4-1 (0-1)

Not too long ago (2015), the Camels endured a winless campaign and finished near the bottom of the league. 2016 saw a slight improvement, but not many would have expected Conn to vault into second place in 2017. The Camels are out to prove doubters in the NESCAC that their 2017 season was not a fluke. Sure they’ve lost some talent, but last season’s leading goal scorer for the Camels (Kat Norton ’21) is back along with Alex Baltazar ’19. They held firm with Middlebury until the latter stages of the game, and actually outshot the Panthers 20-19. I think the Camels can surprise some teams this season, but will need to produce actual results early on in the year in order for others to buy into the hype.

Up Next:Following a road trip to Hamilton, the Camels head back home to take on Colby. Conn understands while both games are important, the Continentals present a much (emphasis on much) tougher challenge than the Mules. A sweep of this weekend’s games would give the Camels a much-needed confidence boost before next weekend’s date with Williams.

Wesleyan: 4-2 (1-1)

Liz Young ’19 will look to lead the Cardinals to the postseason

The Cardinals were bad last year; there’s no way to sugarcoat it. However, they’ve already tied their conference win total from last year with a victory over Bowdoin this past Saturday. Liz Young ’19 notched her third goal of the young season against the Polar Bears, and will look to lead her Cardinals to a potential playoff berth (something that’s alluded this program the last four years).

Up Next:The Cardinals have a very winnable game against Bates on Saturday, and if they want to take that next step in securing a playoff berth, they’ll need to leave Lewiston with a positive result. The Bobcats went into Middletown last season and came away with a 1-0 victory, so Wesleyan will want to return the favor.

Bowdoin: 2-2-1 (1-2)

Bowdoin slots in at the eight hole primarily because the three teams below them are winless in conference play. The Polar Bear’s first two games in the NESCAC went pretty well; although they fell 1-0 to Amherst, it was a tightly contested battle, and then they gave in-state rival Bates a spanking by the tune of 4-0. The 2-0 loss to Wesleyan really took the wind out of the sail, and could be a vital result as the two teams will most certainly jockey for playoff seeding throughout the season. Morgen Gallagher ’20 has fired a team-high 20 shots so far, but only one goal has resulted from them. She and the rest of her Polar Bears crew will look to generate more consistency on the offensive side of the ball, as Bowdoin has been shut out in three of their five games to date.

Up Next: The Polar Bears will travel to Middlebury to take on the Panthers this weekend. Bowdoin has surprisingly owned the Panthers in recent history, winning the last four regular season matches. They’ll look to push the streak to five with an upset on Saturday.

Trinity: 2-3 (0-2)

After starting the season 0-3, the Bantams picked up two non-conference wins by a combined score of 7-0. Don’t let that goose egg fool you, however, because the Bantam defense was downright atrocious in its first two conference games. I understand giving up 25 shots to Williams in a 3-1 defeat, but they gave up 37 shots against Hamilton IN A SINGLE GAME. That has to be some sort of typo, because if it isn’t, the Bantams will have some problems later in the year. On the bright side, goalie Taylor O’Conner ’21 has been remarkable, leading the ‘CAC with 30 saves and doing her best to keep her team in the game.

Up Next: Trinity’s favorable early schedule now features four straight games against teams expected to finish in the bottom half of the conference. The first one up is a home game against Colby; the Bantams need a victory here if they want to move up from the cellar of the conference. More so, they need a solid defensive performance on Saturday to instill confidence in a unit that has been struggling mightily and will be needed as the season goes by.

Colby: 2-2 (0-2)

There are few sports that Colby is better at than Bates. I’m not saying Colby women’s soccer is better than this Bates team, but at this early point in the season, I am slotting the Mules just ahead of the Bobcats because they’ve played better in their conference losses. Relatively close losses to Tufts and Williams are still losses at the end of the day, but can be used as vital experience when it comes time to playing weaker conference foes. The trio of Catherine Fraser ’19, Olivia Greif ’21 and Juliette Nadeau ’22 have carried the Mule offense to date, but these three will need to have a bigger impact in their remaining conference games in order for Colby to snag a playoff spot.

Up Next: Colby has two games this weekend, both in the state of Connecticut. First, they have a date with Trinity; with the way the Trinity defense is playing (this can’t be stressed enough), the Mules have a real opportunity to win this game. The following day, they have a tougher opponent in Conn College, but a split from this weekend series would be a nice result.

Bates: 2-3 (0-3)

The Bobcats have played three conference games: they’ve given up eight goals and haven’t scored any of their own. These kinds of numbers typically don’t result in a recipe for success. Bates is in dire need of offense, as they sit dead last in the NESCAC for goals scored and shots taken, and second-to-last in assists. Olivia Amdur ’19 ended her 2017 campaign tied for fifth in goals, yet hasn’t found the net this season. The Bobcats desperately need her to wake up from her slump and find players to get her the ball; otherwise they have a long season ahead.

Up Next: Bates has two home games this weekend, with the first being Wesleyan. As mentioned above, the ‘Cats can definitely win this game, but Wesleyan will be well prepared after losing to Bates a season ago. The following game features Williams, a team that Bates hasn’t defeated since 2010. I’d expect that trend to continue, but hey, crazier things have happened in sports.

And Then There Were Four: Women’s Soccer Semifinals Preview

Williams looks to defend their home turf as the NESCAC semifinals head to Williamstown tomorrow (Courtesy of Williams Athletics)

Call me Liamstradamus, because I swear to God I’m psychic. I picked every single winner correctly from the quarterfinals, got the exact score right in one, and nailed the goal difference in another…. So suffice to say I’m pretty much the golden boy around here right now. I don’t want to make this all about me, even though it should be, so let’s quickly go over the quarterfinals before we dive into my semifinal predictions.

Williams defeats Hamilton 4-1

Hey Hamilton look don’t feel bad. Williams has been absolutely dominant all year and right now they’re the favorite to win the whole thing at the end. Williams looked vulnerable early, surrendering the first goal of the game, but quickly silenced all talk of an upset by rattling off four straight goals to seal their victory.

Amherst defeats Conn College 6-1

Our fears about Conn College were certainly vindicated here; they just struggle to play against top level competition. The game was a relatively close 2-1 after 79 minutes, but in the final stretch Amherst scored four consecutive goals and closed out the Camels with ease. Amherst has been on a roll lately and will look to continue their winning ways in the semifinals.

Middlebury defeats Bowdoin 2-1

I called this game perfectly. Winner, score, whether or not a fan would streak across the field during the game (No was the answer). The 2-1 scoreline makes this game seem closer than it was though, as Middlebury seemed in control from start to finish. The only goal they conceded came off a penalty kick and was answered less than a minute later.

Trinity defeats Tufts 1-0

Sorry Jumbo fans, in the most competitive game of the weekend (which I was also able to watch snippets of while watching my Panthers lose to the Bantams in football), they just didn’t have enough to outlast Trinity. Trinity’s defense looked nigh on impenetrable throughout the game and dominated the usually potent Jumbo attack.

Four games, four winners, and now only four remain. It’s semifinal time! But also final time because this is the NESCAC and we do these things in two days dammit! (Just kidding, it’s the right system and adds to the excitement). These four teams will travel to Williamstown on Friday and face off in what is sure to be an exciting weekend of soccer. Let’s get down to my eerily prescient picks. I’m also going to give a quick preview here of my expected final so read all the way to the end because there will be a quiz.

Williams vs. Trinity

Prediction: Williams wins 2-0

Trinity and Williams played in the opening weekend of the season this year, and their game went to overtime before the Ephs were able to escape with a 2-1 win. Both teams were working out early season kinks, but the Bantams, who have only outright beaten Williams once in their last 22 matchups, are sure to look back at this game and gain a little confidence for their upcoming bout. Unfortunately, I just don’t see Trinity or their superstar forward Taylor Kirchgessner (’19) being able to get going against a stout Williams defense that has only surrendered 5 goals all season! That’s insane. Williams has also won 10 straight and in that time defeated 5 teams that made appearances in the NESCAC playoffs. Williams should win and lock up home field advantage for the NESCAC finals.

Amherst vs. Middlebury

Middlebury wins 1-0

Wow. This game is gonna be tight. Amherst might be on a roll recently, winners of 10 straight including their NESCAC quarterfinals domination of Conn, but the only time these two teams faced off this year, Middlebury won 1-0. The game was hard fought and only decided thanks to the heroics of Emma Shumway (’18) who scored late in the second half. This game is sure to be just as close. Both teams rank in the top 3 in the league in goals per game with Amherst at 2 (2.25 gpg) and Middlebury at 3 (2.06 gpg). Both teams also rank in the top half of the league in defense with Amherst 4th and Middlebury 5th. I see this game coming down to the goalies. Amherst has found a rock in Chelsea Cutler (’19) who has started 15 games this year and only allowed 10 goals while making 57 saves. Middlebury has adopted a goalie by committee approach with Ursula Alwang (’20) and Kate Reinmuth (’17). Alwang started the quarterfinals against Bowdoin but both have made starts and appearances over the course of the last three games. This one is going to be tight, and honestly could go either way. I’m banking on Middlebury to repeat their success from earlier this year and escape with a 1-0 win.

NESCAC Finals— Williams vs. Middlebury

Prediction: Williams win 2-1

If this is the way the cookie crumbles in the semifinals, then we’re in for a rematch of the final game of the regular season for these two teams. Both have looked dominant for long stretches of the season, but Williams has consistently looked a little better. They’ve handled their business against the bottom of the conference and shown other good teams like Middlebury who’s really in charge. In a game that could be decided by one or two bounces, I see Williams winning and claiming their second straight NESCAC championship.

Coming Down to the Wire: Women’s Soccer Weekly Recap 10/13-10/18

The Jumbos split on the weekend, putting them in 5th place leading into the final week of action (Courtesy of Tufts Athletics).

Hey everyone listen… No really please listen. NESCAC women’s soccer was crazy this weekend, it really was and I’m here to tell you all about it. So calm down, or get amped, I’m a writer not a cop, and get ready to be spoon fed all the excitement that happened on the pitch this weekend.

Thursday, October 13th

Thomas College @ Bates, Final Score: 1-6 Bates

Saturday, October 15th

Bowdoin @ Hamilton, Final Score: 2-0 Bowdoin

Bowdoin controlled much of this Saturday afternoon matchup, besting the host Continentals by a score of 2-0. The first 20 minutes of play were relatively even until Bowdoin forward Emma Beane ’20 stole the ball in Hamilton’s half and beat keeper Emily Dumont ’18. Hamilton, perhaps sensing another loss on the horizon, played aggressively in the first half, attempting 12 shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net. In the second half, Bowdoin’s Claire Dardinski ’19 scored off a pass from Brigit Bergin after her initial attempt was saved.

Middlebury @ Trinity, Final Score: 2-1 Middlebury

In a battle between two teams vying to be included in the upper echelons of the conference, the visiting Middlebury Panthers defeated the Bantams of Trinity by a score of 2-1. Middlebury struck first in the game when Alissa “Good Will” Huntington ’18 scored a header off a corner kick delivered by Amy Martin ’17. Middlebury then extended their lead early in the second half when Adrianna Gildner ’17 blasted a free kick passed Bantam goalkeeper Julia Pitino ’18. Trinity scored their only goal of the afternoon a few minutes later when two great efforts by Trinity players Taylor Kirchgessner ’19 and Nicole Stauffer ’17 bounced off the crossbar. The ensuing scramble left Panther keeper Ursula Alwang ’20 in a precarious position after a diving save attempt and Stauffer was able to finish her rebound. Alwang made a diving save later in the half to protect the Panther lead and earn them the victory.

Tufts @ Conn College, Final Score: 1-0 Tufts

A defensive battle saw the visiting Jumbos defeat the Camels by a score of 1-0. Conn has now lost 3 of their last 4 NESCAC games and seems to be struggling to score as 2 of those losses have been by a score of 1-0. Neither team found the back of the net for the first hour of play, but then, in the 63rd minute, Tufts midfielder Sarah Pykkonen ’17 beat Conn keeper Bryanna Montalvo ’18 to score the only goal of the game. Pykkonen was assisted on the play by Alessandra Sadler ’19. Conn struggled to create scoring opportunities all game and was surely disappointed to lose such an important game at home.

Colby @ Amherst, Final score: 0-2 Amherst

Amherst, unlike Trinity and Conn, held serve in their Saturday game, defeating the visiting Colby Mules 2-0. After Saturday, Amherst had won 6 games in a row and had done so in dominant fashion. The win over Colby was no different. Hannah Guzzi ’18 scored both goals for Amherst, one in each half. She scored her first goal at about the 20 minute mark, capitalizing on a possession where Amherst attempted shots on goal 3 times before finally slotting one into the back of the net. Guzzi’s other goal came in the second half, this time scoring off a cross from Maeve McNamara ’19. Guzzi is now tied for the league lead in total goals scored with 10. Colby never really got going on offense in this game, only mustering 3 shots and struggling to retain possession.

Wesleyan @ Williams, Final score: 0-6 Williams

Not every game can be close. Or even kind of close. Or even sort of kind of close. Williams, ranked second nationally, absolutely dominated the visiting Cardinals to the tune of 6-0. The Ephs, after Saturday’s win, set a new record for consecutive unbeaten matches with 21. The first goal of the game came less than two minutes into the match when Sarah Scire ’20 had probably the easiest goal of her life after a beautiful pass from Audrey Thomas ’17. Next, Natasha Albaneze ’18 scored for the Ephs before Thomas added her own goal in the 13th minute of play. Williams closed off their first half onslaught when Lauren Brown ’19 rifled a shot past Wesleyan keeper Claire Coyle ’20. Scire and Thomas both scored again in the second half to extend the lead to 6 and truly finish off the Cardinals. The Cardinals switched keepers at half, subbing out Coyle in favor of Zoe Cassels-Brown ’20 in an attempt to stem the tide of Eph goals.

Sunday, October 17th

Tufts @ Trinity, Final score: 0-2 Trinity

Trinity rebounded from their tough loss to Middlebury to defeat the visiting Jumbos by a score of 2-0. Trinity was dominant defensively, controlling the pace and flow of the game for much of the afternoon. They were also ruthlessly efficient on the offensive end, scoring twice on only eight shots. The first goal of the game came in under 10 minutes when Sheena Landy ’17 headed in a corner kick from Kendra Lena ’17. Tricia Pollock extended Trinity’s lead in the second half, beating Emily Bowers ’19 and scoring a screamer from 18 yards out.

Amherst @ Conn College, Final score: 2-1 Amherst

Conn was unable to defend their home for the second time this weekend, falling to the visitors from Western Mass. Conn came out of the gate quickly, scoring less than a minute into the game. Lauren Steele ’18 scored her third goal of the season off an expertly placed cross from Alex Baltazar ’19. Sloan Askins ’20 responded later in the first half on a long shot. Askins also recorded the game winner late in the second half when she finished a cross sent in by Rubii Tamen ’19. Conn’s Baltazar had an excellent chance just before Askins’ goal, but her chip sailed just high of the cross bar.

Bowdoin @ Williams, Final score: 0-2 Williams

Williams put the capper on a perfect weekend by defeating the visiting Polar Bears 2-0. Audrey Thomas scored her third goal of the weekend early in the first half to help the Ephs jump out to a 1-0 lead. Thomas was released on a great pass from Sarah Scire ’20 who lofted the ball cleverly over the Bowdoin back line. Williams’ added to their tally in the second half when Kristina Alvarado ’19 slammed in a shot off a pass from Kristi Kirshe ’17. Coming off a win on Saturday, Bowdoin looked relatively outmatched by the team from Williams and struggled to generate good chances, only attempting 1 shot that tested the Williams keeper.

Wesleyan @ Middlebury, Final score: 0-1 Middlebury

Middlebury eked out a victory on Sunday, defeating the visiting Cardinals 1-0. Wesleyan put up a valiant effort, especially on defense, where they consistently bent, but refused to break. The match remained scoreless until the final two minutes of play when Middlebury was finally able to break through. In the 88th minute Amy Martin ’17 beat her defender and slid a pass into the box to Emma Shumway ’18 who tapped in an easy opportunity to give the panthers the boost they needed to secure victory. The game was certainly highlighted by excellent play in the back lines for the two teams, particularly at the keeper position. Kate Reinmuth ’17 for Middlebury and Zoe Cassels-Brown ’20 for Wesleyan made 10 combined saves throughout the game, several of which were way, way, way up there on the difficulty scale.

Hartwick @ Hamilton, Final score: 1-1 Tie

Player of the Week

Amy Martin '17 had a huge weekend for the Panthers (Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics). — Amy Martin ’17 had a huge weekend for the Panthers (Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics).

This was a tough week to decide my player of the week award. We had several players who surely deserved the award and I could make a case for giving it to any of them. But it’s not just goal scorers who deserve credit, so this week I’m giving it to someone who scored 0 goals. Amy Martin ’17 of Middlebury is this week’s player of the week. The senior from Sandy Hook, Connecticut had assists in both games and Middlebury won each game by only 1 goal so she certainly had a sizeable impact. The midfielder is now 7th in the NESCAC in assists in conference games and her passing touch has certainly helped Middlebury go on their recent tear.

Week In Review, 9/19-9/25: NESCAC Women’s Soccer

Caroline Kelleher '18 had a hat tricker against Hamilton this weekend to help extend the #22 Camels' win streak to 7 games (Courtesy of Conn College Athletics). — Caroline Kelleher ’18 had a hat tricker against Hamilton this weekend to help extend the #22 Camels’ win streak to 7 games (Courtesy of Conn College Athletics).

Editor’s Note: The NESCAC Women’s Soccer Week In Review is a new feature that we are going to be rolling out this fall. We feel strongly that women’s sports in the NESCAC should also be covered, but unfortunately due to our current resources, we can’t cover them to the extent that we wish we could. We are going to be putting out a weekly article with updates on NESCAC Women’s Soccer action, however staff size is going to limit us to just one article each week for now. That being said, if you have ANY interest in writing (about Women’s Soccer or any of the other sports we cover) or contributing in some way, please send us an email at nothingbutnescac@gmail.com so that we can expand our coverage! For now, enjoy this week’s women’s soccer update!

Hey guess what! Nothing but NESCAC is expanding! Starting with this article, we’ll begin providing weekly updates on all the goings on in NESCAC women’s soccer. I’m Liam Naughton, an accomplished FIFA player and 3rd grade travel soccer MVP, but enough about me. Let’s dive into this past week.

Wednesday, September 21st

Wesleyan @ Tufts, Final Score: 0-0 tie

A mid-week matchup between the Jumbos and the Cardinals ended in a grueling 0-0 draw after two overtimes. Tufts held a decisive shot advantage testing the Wesleyan defense 17 times, while the visitors only managed to spray 8 shots towards Tufts’ net. Of course, the best opportunity of the game came in the 99th minute for Wesleyan when Tufts’ goal keeper Emily Bowers ’19 was forced to make a diving save off a shot from Sarah Sylla ’17 of Wesleyan. After a slow first half in which the Jumbos were stifled by Wesleyan’s intense pressure, Tufts took control more in the second half, but just weren’t able to convert any of their chances into goals. Tufts, who so far have not lost in NESCAC competition will look to build off this game in the coming weeks.

Castleton @ Middlebury, Final Score: 3-1 Middlebury

Conn College @ Coast Guard, Final Score: 2-0 Conn College

Thursday, September 22nd

Emerson @ Trinity, Final Score: 0-3 Trinity

Saturday, September 24th

Bowdoin @ Middlebury, Final Score: 1-0 Bowdoin
The Bowdoin Polar Bears visited the Middlebury Panthers this past weekend and escaped with a hard fought 1-0 win. Middlebury’s aggressive and potent offense (averaging over 2 goals a game this season) was unable to beat Bowdoin goalie Rachel Stout ’18. Adrianna Gildner ’17 provided two of Middlebury’s best opportunities, attempting a bicycle kick early in the first half that flew by the post, and testing Stout on a free kick late in the first half. Despite Gildner’s efforts, it was Bowdoin’s Anna Mellman ’17 who slotted home the game’s only goal, beating Panther goalie Ursula Alwang ’20 with a cracking shot from nearly 35 yards away.

Connecticut College @ Hamilton, Final Score: 3-0 Conn College

Conn College ran over Hamilton in this early season match, besting the host Continentals by a score of 3-0. The Camels (ranked 22nd nationally) relied on the foot of junior midfielder Caroline Kelleher ’18 who scored 3 goals in the match. Conn College began attacking early, Kelleher notching her first goal 5 minutes into the match and her second 13 minutes later. Kelleher then scored her third goal 5 minutes into the second half, demonstrating her dominance. Hamilton forward Amanda Becker ’18 tested Conn College goalie Bryanna Montalvo ’17 twice, but neither she nor any of her teammates were able to best the senior goalie.

Wesleyan @ Bates, Final Score: 2-2 tie

The Bobcats scored two goals in quick succession in the second half to force a draw between themselves and the visiting Wesleyan Cardinals. Wesleyan had jumped out to an early lead behind a penalty kick from Nicole Brodkowitz ’20 after only 11 minutes of action. Wesleyan further extended their lead after Sarah Sylla ’17 scored 10 minutes into the second half. Bates scored consecutive goals in the 83rd and 84th minutes. First, Olivia Amdur ’19 rifled a shot by Wesleyan keeper Zoe Cassels-Brown ’20. Amdur was assisted on her goal Hannah Behringer ’18 who scored herself a minute later off a well worked set piece.

Colby @ Trinity, Final Score: 1-3 Trinity

Trinity scored early and often and cruised past the visiting Colby Mules 3-1. The Bantams flashed a balanced scoring attack, getting goals from Taylor Kirchgessner ’19, Laura Nee ’17, and Sarah Connors ’18 in the 13th, 27th, and 33rd minutes respectively. Colby seemed to be on their backfoot for most of the game, mustering only 5 total shots on target. Only one shot managed to find the back of the net for the Mules as Emily Martin ’18 scored off of an assist from Laura Arnold ’18 two minutes into the second half.

Williams @ Amherst, 1-1 tie

In the 2nd double overtime game of the weekend, Williams and Amherst drew 1-1. Williams, who has not lost yet this season, fell behind early after Amherst scored on a beautiful run and finish by Hannah Guzzi ’18. Williams refused to go down easily, constantly pressuring Amherst’s defense to the tune of 22 shots and sheer domination in terms of possession. Only one shot managed to beat Amherst keeper Chelsea Cutler ’19 though, which came via the foot of Williams’ Kristina Alvarado ’18. Alvarado managed to score on a quality finish after an errant clearance by the Amherst backline. After a scoreless two periods of overtime, the match ended in a draw.

Brandeis @ Tufts, Final Score: 1-1 tie

Sunday, September 25th

Middlebury @ Hamilton, Final Score: 1-0 Middlebury

Middlebury rebounded from their difficult defeat Saturday to beat Hamilton 1-0. Middlebury was on the attack for most of the game, attempting 14 shots and winning 6 corner kicks. But Hamilton’s back line would bend but refused to break, until less than 10 minutes remained in regulation. Katherine Hobbs ’17 continued her season of great form scoring her fourth goal of the season. After winning possession off a corner kick, Hobbs quickly finished the shot and secured Middlebury’s second win in the conference this season.

Colby @ Connecticut College, 0-3 Conn College

Conn College continued their weekend of domination, defeating the Colby mules by a score of 3-0. Colby remained winless in the conference falling to 0-4 and played on their back foot for most of the game. The low point of the game certainly came when Colby scored an own goal after a well placed cross from Alex Baltazar ’19. Conn College has yet to lose in the conference this season and looked utterly dominant throughout the weekend, scoring 6 goals and allowing 0. Michelle Medina ’18 and Livi Block ’18 scored the remaining goals for the Camels, beating Colby keeper Samantha Rizzo ’19, who put up a valiant fight in a losing effort, saving 7 shots.

Williams @ Bates, 2-0 Williams

Williams bounced back from their draw with Amherst to defeat the hosting Bates Bobcats 2-0. Alison Lu ’20 scored her 5th goal of the season, using her head to control a pass from Kristin Kirshe ’17 and then driving the shot past the keeper. Kirshe added her own goal in the second half, beating Bobcats’ goalie Sarah McCarthy ’18 off a pass from Lu. Williams remains undefeated in the conference improving to 4-0-1, while Bates remained winless at 0-4-1. All eyes will be on Williams next weekend when they meet fellow unbeaten Conn College in New London, Connecticut.

Farmingdale State @ Amherst, Final Score: 1-3 Amherst

Player of the Week

This weeks player of the week goes to Conn College’s Caroline Kelleher ’18. The junior from Holden, Massachusetts scored all three of her teams goals against Hamilton and led the Camels to their 3-0 victory. These were Kelleher’s first three goals of the season, but her coaches surely hope that this is a sign of things to come, as another threat would do nothing but elevate Conn College’s already deadly attacking play.