May 5, 2010

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Chris Mason’s Williams women’s lacrosse team (10-6/4-5 NESCAC) seeded seventh in the NESCAC Tournament will take on top-seeded Trinity (13-2/7-2 NESCAC) in Hartford at 12:00 p.m. Saturday in one of the NESCAC tournament semifinal contests.

#3 Colby will battle #4 Amherst in the second semifinal with the winners of the Saturday games meeting on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at Trinity for the 2010 NESCAC title and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Last Sunday the Ephs shook off a the effects of a one-goal loss at Middlebury on Saturday and traveled to Bowdoin and overcame an 8-5 halftime deficit to win 14-12, avenging a one-goal 3 OT loss to the Polar Bears in the regular season, to advance to the semifinals.

Mason’s Ephs will be looking to reverse the regular season score vs. Trinity when the Bantams prevailed 12-5 and advance to a second consecutive NESCAC title tilt.

When the Ephs and Bantams first met this season Trinity was undefeated and they used their speed and quickness to create havoc for the Ephs in the midfield. “They pressured us in the midfield area and we had trouble advancing the ball and creating scoring opportunities,” commented Mason. “Since that game we’ve focused on our midfield play and ball handling and we are much more prepared to play. Ball possession is always key in creating scoring chances.”

Since the loss at Trinity the Ephs have won seven of their last nine contests and both losses in that skein were by a single goal. Over the nine game span the Ephs have tallied 114 goals to average 12.6 goals a game. Trinity allows just 6.93 goals a game and scores at a 12.53 clip.

Mason will be looking to her senior class to help lead the Ephs back to the NESCAC championship game. “This is a great senior class,” noted Mason. “They’re feeling the importance of all of this right now and they are working hard every single play. They know it ‘s their last chance and you can see that the underclassmen want to do it for them. “

The challenge is there for the Ephs as Trinity leads NESCAC in defense and has a conference best 13 wins and is on in the midst of an historical season.

A year ago the fifth-seeded Ephs edged Trinity by a goal in the first round of the tournament, before shocking #1 seeded Tufts in OT in the semifinals to play Colby for the NESCAC title. Colby won the game 12-10 and the Ephs Class of 2010 has one more shot at a NESCAC title and chapter two of their quest begins Saturday at noon in Hartford.

 

NESCAC Women’s Lacrosse Semifinals & Finals

Trinity College – Hartford, CT

May 8 -- Semifinals
12:00 p.m. -- #7 Williams vs. #1 Trinity

2:30 p.m. -- #3 Colby vs. #4 Amherst

May 9 – Final

12:00 p.m. – Saturday’s winners