MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team scored a goal in each half, and held on to defeat Williams College 2-1 on Saturday afternoon from South Street Field. With the win, Conn moves to 9-2-6 overall, while Williams falls to 10-4-3 on the year.
It was a slow start for both sides, but Conn created the better looks in the opening 15 minutes, but neither side was able to generate a shot until Sam Boehm (Lexington, Mass.) had an effort blocked at 17:19. The Camels tallied the next three shots, but again none ended up on target. With just under 10 minutes left in the first half, Williams recorded their first shot, but the effort went over Peter Silvester's (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) cage.
Just over a minute later, Conn had a golden opportunity to open the scoring, as the Camels were awarded a penalty kick. Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) stepped up but the spot kick was stopped by Ben Diffley. However, with just two and a half minutes left before the break, Conn got on the board. Alessandro Horvath Diano (New Haven, Conn.) played a ball into the box, finding Jake Creus (Rye, N.Y.) who volleyed it to the far post, making it 1-0 Conn at the half.
Conn had a good look to double the lead early in the second half, but Matt Scoffone (Thornton, Pa.) had his chance blocked, with the rebound falling to Gavin Vanden Berg (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) but the shot was stopped by Diffley. Williams answered however, by upping their pressure. With 12 minutes gone in the frame, the Ephs came close to tying the game, but the effort from Atticus Ross rang off the crossbar.
After the Camels defense held firm from a barrage of Ephs attacks, Conn doubled the lead with just under 21 minutes remaining. Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) collected a loose ball in the midfield, playing a ball over the top into the path of Scoffone, beating Diffley to the far post, making it 2-0.
With time running down, Williams had a good look to cut the deficit in half, but Silvester came up with a fantastic save to keep the Ephs off the scoreboard. However, Williams finally got on the board with 5:24 left in regulation. The Ephs earned a free kick, just outside the box, with the ensuing free kick hitting the crossbar, falling to Lorcan Mitchell making it 2-1. Conn held on for the final five minutes to come away with the 2-1 win.
Conn outshot Williams 15-7 overall, holding a 7-3 edge on shots on target, while Williams held a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Silvester got the start in goal, recording two saves. Creus and Scoffone both recorded a goal, while Horvath Diano and Perugini each added an assist.
Diffley recorded five saves in goal for Williams, while Mitchell tallied the lone Ephs goal.
Conn advances to the NESCAC Championship game for the third time in four years, and will look to claim their first NESCAC title tomorrow against No. 3 Middlebury at 12:00 p.m. in Middlebury, Vt.
