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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College women's hockey team
surrendered a pair of goals in the first and second periods before
falling to NESCAC power Middlebury 5-1 in the Ephs season opener
Saturday.
The loss marks an inauspicious start for the Ephs (0-1), who
look to improve off of last year's campaign which saw them total
five wins. The Panthers lived up to their billing as the #3-ranked
team in NCAA, and improve to 1-0.
"It was a great opportunity for us to start the season against
Middlebury." Remarked Eph head coach Shannon Bryant, "Although we
didn't get the win, we played sixty minutes of hockey and didn't
give up."
Middlebury held a sizeable advantage in power plays (Williams:
2, Middlebury: 8) and penalties (Williams: 8, Middlebury: 2), and
nearly doubled Williams in shot production (Williams: 26,
Middlebury: 50). The Panthers were lead by Maggie Melberg's two
scores and an assist.
The Panthers got on the board just 9:32 into the first period
when Melberg converted the first of her two scores off of a
picturesque short-handed score. Middlebury would add another score
just five minutes later to end the period with a two score
advantage.
The Ephs didn't help themselves in the second period, as two
Williams penalties lead to two power play scores by the Panthers to
balloon their advantage to 4-0 after two periods.
Williams would cut into their deficit in the third period when a
series of passes between Tracy Ferriter and Eliza Foster culminated
in a drop off pass to Kait O'Brien who promptly converted to get
the Ephs on the board at 4-1.
However, Middlebury was not done and settled the scoring at 5-1
with a late tally from Annmarie Cellino.
Despite giving up five goals Williams goal-tender, Sarah
Plunkett, recorded 45 saves.
"I really was proud of the way Sarah played today. She was
aggressive and made a lot of great saves."
The Ephs next play November 21st at 7:00 PM at
Plattsburgh.
