WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. –- Williams College's Alison Lu scored in overtime Sunday to lift the Ephs to a 2-1 win over Tufts in the New England Small College Athletic Conference women's soccer championship game.

 

The first half saw relatively few chances, as play was concentrated in the midfield. Eph senior forward Natasha Albaneze had the best opportunity of the period, when her shot from distance hit the left goal post in the 13th minute. Freshman forward Liz Reed had a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute for the Jumbos, but Williams junior goalkeeper Olivia Barnhill made the save.

 

The game was scoreless at halftime, and the Ephs held a 4-3 edge in shots.

 

Tufts found a breakthrough in the 59th minute. Freshman forward Sophie Lloyd found space on a counterattack, and she played a ball forward for junior Alessandra Sadler. Sadler took a touch and chipped a shot past the keeper and into the net, putting the Jumbos up 1-0.

 

Williams equalized in the 81st minute. Players crowded around in Tufts’ penalty area, and Jumbo goalkeeper Emily Bowers saved a shot from Eph midfielder Natalie Turner-Wyatt. The ball bounced out to midfielder Victoria Laino, who sent the ball back in to Turner-Wyatt. Unmarked, Turner-Wyatt slipped a shot inside the near post to knot the score at one.

 

Despite an increased intensity in the final minutes regulation, the score remained 1-1 after 90 minutes.

 

The game went into overtime, and sophomore Lu notched the decider for the Ephs 4 minutes, 30 seconds into the extra period. Albaneze made a run into the box and played a through ball to Lu.

 

Williams claimed the eighth NESCAC title in school history. The Ephs finished with a 17-8 shot advantage. Bowers made eight saves for Tufts, while Barnhill had two for Williams.