After holding Williams College scoreless for nearly sixty minutes, the women’s field hockey team lost by a score of 3-1 in its season opener on Saturday. The loss extends the team’s losing streak to the Ephs to three games—including a NESCAC tournament match in 2003.
Playing at home, the Cardinals gave a stellar defensive performance, keeping the score knotted at 0-0 for all but the game’s final ten minutes.
Early on, the Cardinals dominated on both sides of the field and consistently out-hustled the Ephs, keeping the play out of their own circle for most of the first period. Adams, who later tallied Wesleyan’s only goal of the game, led the Cardinals in the shot department, firing four on the Williams goalie. Maddie Rottman ’08 added another three on the game. Thanks to the relentless pressure early on, the Cardinals managed to outshoot Williams 7-1. But perhaps it was the ferocious early play that led to Wesleyan’s quick demise in the last ten minutes of the game.
With 10:10 left in regulation, Williams’ offense came alive. The Ephs scored three times in just 6 minutes and 11 seconds, putting the Cardinals at a 3-0 deficit with under 4 minutes remaining.
The Wesleyan players were down, but they were not out. In the game’s final seconds the Wesleyan offense managed to strike back when Molly Adams ’08, with an assist from Courtney Tetrault ’07, scored the teams first goal of the 2005 season.
Still, it was too little too late and Williams celebrated another victory in Middletown.
Wednesday the Cardinals will look to bounce back from their tough season opener as they play their first road game against Babson College. Last season, the Cardinals hosted Babson and came away with a 2-1 victory.
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