Williams Advances to Men's Soccer Final with 2-0 Decision Over Bowdoin
Courtesy Wesleyan Sports Information
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Williams used a goal in each half to take a 2-0 decision over Bowdoin in the second semifinal of the 2009 NESCAC Men’s Soccer Championship on Saturday at Jackson Field on the campus of Wesleyan University. Williams advances to play Middlebury College, a 2-0 winner over Wesleyan in the other semifinal, on Sunday as the Ephs seek their sixth NESCAC title. Williams improved to 13-2-1 with the win, while Bowdoin fell to 11-4-1.
This will be the fifth time that the Panthers and Ephs have met in the championship match in the 10-year history of the tournament. The last time these two teams played for the NESCAC title was 2006 in what was a scoreless draw through 110 minutes. Williams came away with the conference crown thanks to a 3-2 victory in the penalty kick session. Middlebury won its first league title in 2000 over Williams, 1-0 in quadruple-overtime, however the Ephs have taken the last four championship contests against the Panthers.
The first 20 minutes of the contest were characterized by strong defense on both sides, as neither team was able to launch a shot. Williams senior forward Pierre Meloty-Kapella finally broke through at the 20:04 mark, rifling a shot past Bowdoin junior goalkeeper Dan Hicks to give Williams a 1-0 lead. Meloty-Kapella ran into the box all alone and fired a shot from 18 yards out into the left side of the goal, his eighth of the season.
Bowdoin did not muster its first shot of the match until the 25th minute, as sophomore midfielder Nick Powell sent the ball from the top of the box right to Williams senior keeper Andrew Graham. Bowdoin also had a pair of wide shots in the first half, but the Williams defense kept the Polar Bears from mounting a serious threat on offense.
Williams made it 2-0 in the 68th minute on a header by senior midfielder Will Whiston following a corner kick. Junior forward Gaston Kelly sent the ball into a crowd along the right side of the box, where it was put in by Whiston for his fifth goal of the season.
Bowdoin had a pair of golden opportunities in the second half but was denied both times. Ten minutes into the period, with the score still 1-0, sophomore forward Eddie Jones took a shot from the top of the box, which was saved by Graham. The rebound went to Powell along the left side of the box with Graham out of position, but Powell’s shot at the open net sailed high. Bowdoin also had a chance to halve Williams’ margin with just under seven minutes remaining, but junior midfielder Ben Denton-Schneider’s shot from 20 yards out hit the left post.
Graham made four saves in the Williams net for his second shutout and Williams’ eighth of the season. Hicks stopped one shot in the Bowdoin goal.
