Hamilton ends 86-year drought vs. Williams

Dan Kraynak scored Hamilton's first goal in an historic victory. Hamilton athletics file photo

The Hamilton College men's soccer team (5-6-3, 3-4-3 NESCAC) posted its first win over Williams in 86 years, rallying to beat the host Ephs 2-1 in Williamstown, Mass., Wednesday. Hamilton's win, coupled with Amherst's win over Trinity, clinches a spot in the NESCAC playoffs for the Continentals. They'll play at top-seeded Amherst in a quarterfinal game Saturday at a time to be announced.

Williams (9-4-0, 6-3-0 NESCAC) had been ranked second in the NCAA New England Region poll, which is based on the same criteria used to select and seed teams for the NCAA playoffs.

Bayard Geeslin '16 scored the game-winning goal in the 71st minute and the Continentals withstood three shots by Williams (who outshot the visitors 19-10) in the final seven minutes. A shot by Jonathan Westling '16 was saved off the line by defender Andrew Martin '16 with 6:50 to go and 12 seconds later Hamilton goalkeeper Fred Porges '14 stonewalled Chris Conder '15 on the rebound. Three minutes later another Westling shot was saved by Porges. The Ephs final scoring opportunity came in the last minute of play when they were awarded a corner kick, which was played to Geoff Danilack '16, whose shot went wide.

Porges finished with eight saves. Peter Morrell '14 stopped two shots for Williams.

Dan Kraynak '15 picked up his team-leading fifth goal of the year to tie the game midway through the opening half. He converted a pass from John McGuinnis '16, who picked up his third assist of the season on the play. McGuinnis' three assists are tied for the team lead.

Geeslin's goal was his second of the season; he notched the tying goal in Hamilton's come-from-behind win over Utica last week.

Williams' leading scorer, Matt Muralles '15, put the Ephs on the board first with a goal in the 13th minute.

Hamilton will be making the program's first appearance in the NESCAC playoffs since joining the conference in 2011. The Continentals entered the game 1-31-4 all-time against Williams, posting their only series win in 1927 (4-1). Hamilton had lost 12 straight to the Ephs, dating back to a 1-1 tie in 1990.

Amherst is the top-ranked team in both the NCAA regional poll and is fifth in the latest D3soccer.com poll. Hamilton played the Lord Jeffs (then ranked third nationally) to a 1-1 tie three weeks ago at Love Field.