The Hamilton College women's soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision against nationally ranked No. 1 Williams College in the 2016 opener for both teams at Hamilton's Love Field on Wednesday afternoon.

This NESCAC contest was played on a sunny afternoon when the temperature rose well into the 80s and the coaches substituted often.

Emily Dumont '18 tied a career high with seven saves in her eighth start for the Continentals. Amanda Becker '18 was credited with four of Hamilton's 14 shots.

Alison Lu scored two goals and Kristi Kirshe notched the other for the Ephs. Natalie Turner-Wyatt and Natasha Albaneze collected assists, and Olivia Barnhill stopped six shots for the shutout.

Hamilton generated a great deal of pressure early with eight shots and a corner kick in the first 14 minutes. Barnhill saved shots by Becker and Bea Blackwell '17, a cross from the left side outside the box by Morgan Fletcher '17 just missed the head of an open Maddie Dale '20 in front of the goal, and another shot by Becker flew mere inches over the crossbar in the 11th minute.

The Continentals didn't take another shot until the 68th minute when Katie Kreider '18 forced Barnhill to make a stop on a free kick that was headed for the lower right corner of the goal. In the 84th minute, a long shot by Fionn Fortune '20 was tipped over the crossbar by a leaping Barnhill.

Lu broke the ice in the 32nd minute when she scored on a breakaway chance. Her first shot was stopped by a charging Dumont but the loose ball deflected off Lu's knee and bounced 10 yards forward into the goal. Williams held the one-goal lead at the half.

Kirshe made it 2-0 in the 61st minute following excellent passes from Turner-Wyatt and Albaneze. Lu posted her second goal on a penalty kick with 23:23 left after a Hamilton player was whistled for a foul in the box.

The Continentals travel to Bates College for another NESCAC game on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. The Ephs host Trinity College in conference action on Saturday at noon.