Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – The sixth-ranked Williams College men's soccer team scored three second-half goals on its way to shutting out Husson University, 3-0, in the opening round of the D-III NCAA Tournament, this afternoon at Rensselaer.
With the win the Ephs improve to 15-2-1 and advance to the second round on Sunday at Renwyck Field (1pm), where they will face the winner of the Rensselaer/Eastern Connecticut State first round game. The Eagles concluded their season with a 10-9-1 overall mark.
In the 70th minute, junior Charles Romero (Mansfield, MA) broke-up a scoreless tie, when his shot from the top of the penalty area found its way inside the right post. The play was setup by senior Pierre Meloty-Kapella (Redwood City, CA), who dribbled in from the left along the goal line and slotted a pass back to Romero for the finish.
Junior Joe Vella (Manlius, NY) gave the Ephs a 2-0 lead on a header in the 71st minute. Junior Gaston Kelly (Hingham, MA) sent a corner towards to the top of the six-yard box for Vella, who finished into to the top left corner of the net.
Ephs' junior Alex Johnson (Niskayuna, NY) slotted home a third goal off a cross from senior Peter Houston (East Lansing, MI) in the 78th minute. Johnson settled the ball down and buried his first goal of the season.
Williams held play throughout much of the first half, creating a number of scoring chances. In the 15th-minute, Romero was sent in one-on-one with Eagles goaltender Miguel Dominguez (Rome, GA), who was able to stick out his right leg for the save.
The Ephs best chance of the opening stanza came in the 40th minute, when a header by Conor Smith (Yardley, PA) off a corner-kick was cleared off the goal-line by a Husson defender. Williams took a 13-0 shooting edge into the break, including a 7-0 advantage in shots on target.
Senior goalie Andrew Graham (Northbrook, IL) earned the win, saving the only shot he faced, before giving way to freshman Than Finan (Williamstown, MA) in the 85th minute. Dominguez made eight stops for the Eagles.
Tournament Page
