Williams Wins 2001 Men's Soccer Championship

Courtesy Williams Sports Information

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College men's soccer team (15-1-0) defeated the Middlebury Panthers (9-6-2) 5-1 in today's NESCAC Tournament title game. Though the Ephs trailed the Panthers momentarily in the early going, Williams scored five unanswered goals to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship tournament.

Today's win not only avenges the1-0 defeat that Williams suffered in last year's title game following four overtime periods, but also the 1-0 defeat Middlebury handed the Ephs on October 27, which was the team's first regular season loss since 1998. Over the team's 51-game unbeaten streak, Williams had gone 50-0-1.

None of that mattered today though as the Ephmen played their most impressive game of the season. The Ephs outshot the Panthers 31-10, and dominated play from the get-go.

"I thought it was a very well-played game," Williams men's soccer coach Mike Russo said. "I was pleased with the way the guys responded, our work-rate today was the best we've had all year and you couldn't ask for that to happen at a better time. It was a total team effort -- I really can't say enough about the effort we put in today."

The Panthers scored their lone goal when a cross off a set piece resulted in a fight for aerial domination. With the Ephs trying desperately to clear the ball, Todd Maloney finally got his head on the ball and managed to knock the ball past the Williams goalkeeper, junior Robbie Kirsher, to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.

"There was never any sense of nervousness or worry on our side," senior Marc Williams said. "It frustrated us of course but we made sure to keep it all in perspective, we kept our heads in the game and didn't let it get to us; after all, it's a 90 minute game."

It would not take the Ephs long to even the score, however, as it was a 1-1 contest only a minute and a half later. Sophomore Khari Stephenson collected the ball on the right flank and sent a cross into the box that went through the hands of Panther goalkeeper Brian Hamm. Junior Alex Blake, the NESCAC conference's leading scorer for the second consecutive season, received the ball and sent a shot into the open net.

The Ephs would take the lead in the 32nd minute on a beautiful goal by senior Josef Powell. Senior Ted Giannacopoulos drove the ball down to the goal line after a throw in and sent a high-arching chip to the right side of the goal that found Powell. Powell struck the ball into the net past Hamm on a volley to give the Ephmen a 2-1 advantage.

Stephenson would score a goal of his own in the 53rd minute following an outstanding effort from sophomore Ryan Olsen. An attempted clear by the Panthers hit a charging Olsen in the chest, and after chasing the ball down and hustling down the left flank Olsen dished the ball off to Stephenson who was open in the middle of the 18-yard box. Stephenson collected the pass and sent a shot into the right-hand corner of the goal to make it a 3-1 game.

Powell would score the Ephs' fourth goal on a penalty kick in the 69th minute. Powell had taken the first few strides of a fast break after he burned two defenders, but he was tripped from behind within the 18-yard box to set up the penalty kick. Powell sent his shot into the lower right-hand corner of the net that Hamm, who guessed left, was in no position to stop.

Freshman Schyuler Riggs closed out the scoring in the 89th minute on a beautiful goal. Senior Eric Stein sent a pass to Riggs who was open in the middle of the field from about 25 yards out. Riggs collected the ball and sent a blast into the upper left-hand corner of the net to give the Ephs a 5-1 lead.

"We got beaten today by a team that totally deserved to win," Middlebury head coach David Saward said. "No decisions made by anybody beyond what they did on the field could have changed the outcome; we might have got a bit unlucky with the first goal but that's soccer. I give all the credit to them, I wish them well; I hope they can go on and win the tournament for all of us."

The Ephs will now prepare for NCAA Tournament action, which will begin for the Ephs on November 10; the Ephs expect to host the matches this weekend. Who, when and where the Ephs will be playing will be announced tonight.

"The whole team feels completely motivated right now," Williams said of his team's mindset heading into the tournament. "Not only did we come out today and get a win but it was also probably our strongest team game of the season. Everyone's in a rhythm and we're playing in sync with one another -- this is a very good time to be peaking." 

2001 NESCAC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
First round - Sunday, Oct. 28 at Middlebury
at No. 2 Middlebury 2, No. 7 Bates 0
No. 3 Tufts 3, vs. No. 6 Wesleyan 3 - 2OT
Tufts advances on penalty kicks, 6-5
No. 5 Bowdoin 3, vs. No. 4 Amherst 2 - 2OT

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 3 at Williams
at No. 1 Williams 3, No. 5 Bowdoin 0
No. 2 Middlebury 1, vs. No. 3 Tufts 0

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 4 at Williams
at No. 1 Williams 5, No. 2 Middlebury 1