WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team came up short on the road, falling to host Williams 10-8 from Farley-Lamb Field on Saturday afternoon. Conn falls to 6-4 on the year and 1-4 in NESCAC play, while Williams improves to 5-3 on the year and 2-2 in conference action.
The opening quarter was a defensive battle as the teams combined for 11 turnovers in the first fifteen minutes. Williams had the first chance to open the scoring earning a free-position shot at 11:58, but Ava Virga (Watertown, N.Y.) came up with the save. A minute and a half later, Conn opened the scoring. Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) forced a turnover at midfield, before Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) found Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) alone in front who fired home to make it 1-0.
The Ephs answered four and a half minutes later on a free-position goal from Claudia Russell. The tie was short lived however, as just a minute later, Coughlin skipped a shot past Caroline Pratt to make it 2-1. Williams earned another free-position shot with just over two minutes remaining, as McKenna Dwyer converted evening the score at two after one.
The Ephs struck early in the second quarter to take their first lead, as Russell connected on her second free-position goal at 13:13. The defenses continued to play strong, until Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) forced a turnover, before Coughlin fired home her second of the game to make it 3-3 with 6:09 left.
Williams responded with two goals in 1:26, to move back in front 5-3 with three minutes to play. Conn ended the half with two quick strikes. After Virga came up with a save in the final two minutes, Johnston cut the deficit to 5-4 with 47 seconds remaining. After Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) controlled the ensuing draw, Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) found Johnston who beat the buzzer to even the score at five, heading to the break.
The Camels nearly retook the lead early in the third quarter, but Pratt answered with a double save on Johnston and Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.). Conn however, did move back in front as Gill earned a free-position shot, and converted at 11:26 to make it 6-5. Williams responded with back-to-back free-position goals from Juliet Kilborn to retake the lead 7-6 with 6:25 to play. The Ephs added one more goal in the final 30 seconds to lead 8-6 heading to the fourth.
Williams took their largest lead of the afternoon 40 seconds into the final frame off a goal from Reece Willison. Conn ended the run two minutes later as Emma Ognibene (New Canaan, Conn.) cut the deficit to 9-7. Ognibene nearly got her second goal a minute and a half later, but her shot rang off the post. With just under nine minutes left, Coughlin converted on a free-position shot to make it a one goal game.
With 5:44 remaining, Conn had a golden opportunity to even the score as the Camels went a woman-up. With the extra player, Downey earned a free-position shot, but her effort was turned aside by Pratt. Williams was able to add an insurance marker with a free-position goal at 3:09, holding off the Camels down the stretch to come away with the 10-8 win.
Both teams recorded 27 shots, while Williams held a slim 11-10 edge on draw controls.
Virga was strong in the cage, finishing with 11 saves. Coughlin and Johnston paced the Camels with three goals and two goals and one assist respectively. Gill added one goal and one assist, with both Bruce and Ognibene chipping in one goal.
Defensively, Conn forced nine turnovers, with Downey, Panke, and Weber all forcing two. Virga led the way with four ground balls, while five other Camels scooped up at least two. Weber paced Conn with eight draw controls, with both Downey and Panke controlling one each.
Pratt picked up the win in goal, recording 12 saves. Russell paced Williams with three goals, while three other Ephs tallied two points.
Conn returns home to host Trinity on Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. on Silfen Field.
