WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – For just the fourth time in team history, and the first time since 2003, the Wesleyan field hockey team are Little Three Champions. In another sensational defensive display, the No. 14 ranked Cardinals recorded a third straight shutout win while Marley Procopio '29 buried the game-winning tally in the fourth quarter of a 1-0 win over No. 11 Williams.
 
The history-making win marks just the fourth Little Three title in team history, as the Cardinals previously won the Championship in 2003, 1980, and 1978. A third straight shutout win is tied for the second-longest streak in team history while this marks the first time the Cardinals have held a NESCAC opponent scoreless in three straight games. This also snaps a 13-game losing streak to the Ephs, with the last win coming back in 2012 in Williamstown, while today's win is just the second Wesleyan victory over the Ephs on the road in 28 opportunities.
 
Wesleyan had several prime scoring chances in the first half, with Williams goalkeeper Ellie Smith coming up big several times to keep the game scoreless. Off a penalty corner in the sixth minute, Leila Feldman '28 fired in a rocket from the edge of the circle that Smith somehow dealt. Then with the rebound still loose, Procopio landed an attempt on-target from close range that Smith again turned aside.
 
Later in the 21^st minute, Meera Patel '29 was denied this time as the first-year had a chance on a 3-on-1 breakaway situation that Smith made a diving stop on as the game was still scoreless at the halftime break.
 
After a lively first half that saw a combined 15 shot attempts between the two sides, neither team attempted more than two shots in each of the final two quarters. Audrey Pace '26 made a pair of saves on the only Williams shots in the third quarter, setting the stage for the crucial Procopio tally early in the fourth quarter.
 
On what was the Cardinals' first and only penalty corner opportunity in the second half, Georgia Adams '26 inserted to Emily Smith '29 at the top of the circle. The first-year carried to her right and sent a pass at the far post where multiple Cardinals were in good position. Smith's pass made it through the Ephs defense and it was Procopio who fired in the go-ahead goal with 13:07 remaining. That goal is the first of Procopio's career.
 
Holding a one-goal lead, the Cardinals stonewalled the Ephs for the remainder of the second half. Williams had two penalty corners in a seven-second span, but Pace made a save on Laura Ryan and Katie Sigrist saw her shot blocked away by the Cardinals.
 
Some late drama ensued with a green card issued to Kenzie Mauro '27 but the Cardinals held their own despite playing a player down, as Williams didn't generate any shots or corners in the final 5+ minutes of play.
 
Incredibly, today's 1-0 result marks the seventh straight time a Wesleyan-Williams game has ended in a one-goal margin, but today represents the first time the Cardinals have come out on top.
 
Pace made five saves for the Cardinals, as the senior recorded her second solo shutout of the year and her fifth combined shutout through 10 games. The two sides finished nearly identical in shots (11-10 Williams) while the Ephs held a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners.
 
Wesleyan is back in action on Sunday with a 12 PM start against the seven-time defending NCAA National Champion Middlebury.