WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A late-afternoon season-opener for both the Ephs and the Continentals of Hamilton College on Tuesday saw the Ephs triumph 1-0, in spite of unkind conditions on Cole Field.

 

Temperatures clocked in at upwards of 90 degrees and required a water break halfway through each period, but that did little to affect another outstanding Eph defensive performance

 

Audrey Thomas produced the lone goal just minutes after the restart.

 

It was the swiftest of counter attacks, as Maddie Swarr halted a developing Continental foray forward in the 49th minute, laid the ball off quickly to teammate Crystal Lewin in the heart of midfield, who then pinged a long ball over the top to Thomas. She beat both Continental central defenders to the ball and neatly chipped the on-rushing Emily Dumont to get the Ephs off the mark for the 2015 campaign.

 

“[Hamilton] are one of the most underrated teams in the NESCAC," Williams coach Michelyne Pinard said. :They are well organized and have dangerous players, and it showed today. They caused problems, and we had to solve them and I wasn’t expecting any less."

 

Williams plays at Trinity on Saturday.