Springfield, Mass. – September 8, 2024 – A goal by junior Natalia Mottura (Scarsdale, N.Y.) in the 81st minute lifted the Springfield College women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over No. 21 nationally-ranked Williams College this afternoon on Brock-Affleck Field.

Springfield, which defeated the Ephs for the first time in Division III program history today, remained unbeaten and is now 2-0-1 this year, while Williams dropped to 1-1-1 overall.

Mottura notched her second goal in three games this fall and the third goal of her collegiate career, while classmate Meredith Healy (Niantic, Conn.) earned her seventh career assist and first of the 2024 campaign today.

As a team, Williams held a 17-8 differential in shots and a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. It was Springfield keeper Taryn Ryan (Holyoke, Mass.), who kept the Pride in the game today as she saved all eight attempts that were fired in her direction. 

The Ephs had a number of chances in the first half including four shots at Ryan over the final 5:40 of the stanza, but Springfield held Williams scoreless and without a goal in the initial 45 minutes of play for the second time in three games.

In the second, Springfield's first chance at the net came from Madison Daly (Enfield, Conn.), who lifted the ball wide and to the right of net in the 66th minute off a corner kick and shortly thereafter Mottura ripped a shot at goals but Williams keeper Ana Bozzi-Mackay made the save. Springfield was awarded back-to-back corners and then after a mass substitution by the Ephs, Healy was able to cut back behind the Williams defense and slipped the ball to Mottura, who gave the Pride the 1-0 edge. 

Williams attempted the find the equalizer and peppered Ryan with three shots over the final ten minutes of action, but Springfield was able to withstand the pressure and come away with the 1-0 victory.

Springfield will return to action on Saturday, September 14 with a non-conference tilt at home against Rhode Island College beginning at 1:00 pm. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events by subscribing to FloSports.