Ephs End Saints’ NCAA Run in Overtime, 2-1

by: 

Tara Freeman

Jamal Samaroo '15 netted the Saints' goal :28 seconds into the game on Sunday.

Nov. 11:   Michael Madding scored the game-winner with under a minute left in overtime to lift #9 Williams College to a sudden 2-1 victory over #13 St. Lawrence University in the second round of the NCAA men's soccer tournament. 

Williams, which scored two unanswered goals en route to the win, improves to 15-1-2 on the season and advances to the round of 16.  The loss ends the Saints' run in the tournament, as they finish with a 14-3-3 mark on the season.   

St. Lawrence seemingly outplayed the host team throughout the game, outshooting Williams 17-8 and owning an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.  Sophomore Jamal Samaroo scored the lone goal just :28 seconds into the game to put his team up 1-0.  Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Nate Goss-Woliner made a few fantastic saves, including one in the opening half where he dove backwards to deflect a hard-hit shot over the crossbar to preserve the lead. 

That was the last shot that either team would take for the next 50 minutes.  The Ephs broke that string in the 63rd minute when Andres Burbank-Crump found Matt Ratajczak with space in the box.  Ratajczak turned and fired a shot on net, but Goss-Woliner read the play well and cut down the angle to make a tough save. 

The Saints continued to put pressure on the Ephs offensively, but failed to net an insurance goal.  Their best chance to double their advantage came late in regulation, when Samaroo nearly netted his second goal of the game.  Senior Brian Gilloran laid a simple pass for classmate Shaka Pilgrim, who crossed into the 18 for Samaroo. Samaroo cut the ball back to his left foot and fired a shot that bounced off the near post.  Gilloran couldn't get a clean shot off the rebound and the play ended with a goal kick. 

St. Lawrence's 1-0 lead stood until the 80th minute, when Mohammed Rashid scored the equalizer off a pass from Matt Kastner to force overtime.  Madding's game-winner came in the 99t minute of play.    

Finan finished with four saves for Williams, while Goss-Woliner made three for St. Lawrence.