Boxscore
MIDDLETOWN, CT -- The Williams women's hockey team avoided
starting the 08-09 season off with four straight defeats via a last
minute, third-period goal, but they were unable to come away with
an overtime victory this afternoon against Little Three
rivals Wesleyan (0-3-1), as the teams tied 1-1.
The Ephs, now with a record of 0-3-1, managed to throw 48
shots at Cardinal netminder Rachel Stemerman over the course
of the game. However, they also squandered four power-play
opportunities, and scored their only goal with an extra attacker on
the ice and a mere 23 seconds left in regulation time.
It looked as if Wesleyan sophomore forward Sena Ito's backhander
early in the first period (6:04) would stand as the
lone goal of the game until junior forward (and the team's leading
scorer with 5 points) Tracy Ferriter knocked in her second goal of
the season off a rebound created by senior Mallory
Green's drive from the slot. Stermerman had an outstanding
game for the Cardinals, stopping 39 shots before allowing that
game-tying goal, as well as eight additional saves in the overtime
period. The Ephs junior goalie Sarah Plunkett settled down
after allowing that early shot to sneak by, although she did
not have much consistent action to speak of, facing only 18 total
shots and just one in overtime.
"We did a really good job of getting the puck to the net in this
game," said Williams head coach Shannon Bryant, "but we need to do
a lot better job of taking advantage of our opportunities.
Not converting on the power-play hurt us today."
The team is now just 1 for 11 on the power-play this year, and
their penalty kill has allowed 5 goals in 17 tries by
opponents. It seems the Ephs will must focus on improving the
special teams aspect of their game, among other things if they want
to compete in a very competitive and highly skilled
conference.
The team will travel to Clinton, NY tomorrow for a 3pm face-off
against Hamilton, who is 3-1 on the year, but coming off a 8-2 loss
to Middlebury. It will be another tough challenge on the road
for the team, one in which they will have to present a more
polished offense effort if they want to come away with their first
victory.
