The Hamilton College women’s soccer team ended its season Saturday in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC Championship. The eighth-seeded Continentals lost 2-1 at top-seeded Williams as the Ephs scored with seven minutes left to eke out the win.
Box score
Hamilton ends the season with a 7-6-3 record -- the program’s best mark in three years. The Continentals closed the regular season with a 7-1-2 stretch, clinching their 14th postseason bid in the past 17 years.
The host Ephs (14-1-1 overall), who are ranked fourth nationally, will host the semifinals and final of the NESCAC playoffs next weekend.
Victoria Freeman ’16 scored her third goal of the season, tying the score six minutes into the second half. Freeman’s goal followed one of Hamilton’s seven corner kicks after the ball had been played into the box by Becca Rees ’16.
Rees' kick was headed by Katie McKillop '19 back to the far post, where Freeman volleyed it out of the air into the net.
Rees' assist on the play was the 17th of her career, breaking the school record she had shared with Sue Davidson '86 and Wendy Phillips '96.
The Continentals had a chance at the tying goal with 2:14 left on a header by Katie Kreider ’18 that went over the crossbar.
Rachel Cooley ’18 made four saves for the Continentals, who were outshot 19-15.
Kristi Kirshe had a hand in both Williams goals; she scored the Ephs’ first goal in the 12th minute then provided the assist on Crystal Lewin’s game-winning score with 6:51 to go in regulation.
Tressa Palcheck made two saves to earn the win. Freeman’s goal was just the sixth she’s allowed all season.
