Box Score Williamstown, Mass. – Amherst junior Hannah Guzzi (Southborough, Mass.) sent a cross to a streaking Emily Hester (Washington, D.C.) in front of Trinity's goal who booted it into the back of the net for the game-winner in the 2016 NESCAC Women's Soccer Championship game on Sunday against the Trinity College Bantams. Trinity, who knocked off tournament host and top-seeded Williams yesterday in the semifinals, finishes the tournament as runner-ups in its first championship game appearance in program history.
Trinity carried its momentum from yesterday's semifinal game into today and came out aggressive early. The Bantams had a good scoring opportunity when senior Andi Nicholson (Charlotte, N.C.) fired a shot towards net after a throw-in from junior Alexa Barbaresi (Newport Beach, Calif.) in the Amherst defensive third, but the shot missed wide left to no avail. Just a few minutes later, Nicholson set up senior tri-captain Laura Nee (Duxbury, Mass.) with a perfect pass right in front of the box that Nee took and buried just inside the left post to give Trinity an early 1-0 lead.
Trinity's defense, not to be outdone by its performance yesterday, had another strong showing today. Amherst had a clean look at net in the 29th minute but Barbaresi came up with a great defensive save as she cleared the ball and thwarted the scoring threat. The Bantams dominated possession during the final ten minutes of the half, nearly adding to their 1-0 lead multiple times. First-years Tricia Pollock (Beverly, Mass.) and Grace Chalmers (Irvine, Calif.) both had shots in the waning minutes of the half that hit bar, but stayed out of the back of the net. Amherst's attack put pressure on the Bantams back line in the final two minutes but the Trinity defense, led by Barbaresi, senior tri-captain Sheena Landy (Durham, Conn.), junior Kristina Caradonna (Lynnfield, Mass.), and first-year Kelly Lucas (Ludlow, Mass.), had none of it, keeping the ball away from junior goalie Julia Pitino (Littleton, Mass.) who finished the half with three saves.
Amherst controlled the ball to start the second half but a clear by Landy led to a Trinity counter-attack. Nicholson raced down the far sideline with the ball before dishing it to Nee for what looked primed to be the second goal by the pair, but Amherst goalie Chelsea Cutler (Westport, Conn.) made a strong play to come out of goal and smother Nee's shot. The Purple & White attack finally broke through in the 52nd minute when Rubii Tamen (Washington, D.C.) received a pass in the Bantam box from Hayley Roy (Arlington, Va.), turned, and fired a shot into the back of the net passed the outstretched arm of Pitino. Trinity nearly reclaimed the lead a couple minutes later when Nee beat her defender on the Amherst end-line and fed sophomore Taylor Kirchgessner (Southampton, N.Y.) at the top of the box, but the Amherst defense blocked Kirchgessner's shot to keep the game tied. Kirchgessner had almost an identical look at goal from the other side of the box with 25 minutes left to play, but Cutler was there to shut the door once again.
Nicholson had a good look off a Nicole Stauffer (Cheshire, Conn.) throw in near the Purple & White goal with only eight minutes to play, but her shot sailed high and wide of the net. Amherst countered at the opposite end as Roy put her head on the ball and sent it towards net but Pitino held tough in net and fell on the ball to keep it tied. However, just a minute later, Guzzi found Hester who scored the game-winning goal with just five minutes to play. Despite Trinity's best efforts for the equalizer remaining minutes, Amherst played keep-away to hold on for the victory and win the conference crown.
Trinity Head Coach Michael Smith (20th season) reflected on the championship weekend after the game. "It was a milestone weekend for us. This group of seniors was a part of our first NCAA Tournament appearance as first-years and now our first NESCAC Championship appearance as seniors. Their leadership has a lot to do with that. Despite the result today, it was a big weekend for us."
