Box
Score
MIDDLEBURY, Vermont. - The Williams College men's hockey team
battled into the overtime against Middlebury before settling for
the 4-4 tie Tuesday. The result marks the second straight game the
Ephs have fought to an overtime stalemate and improves their record
6-3-2 (4-1-2 NESCAC). The perennial conference power Panthers now
move to 8-3-1.
Matt Masucci, Matt Draheim, Christopher Fahey, and Justin
Troiani each notched a score for the Ephs, while Marc Pulde put in
another great effort in the net stopping 39 shots, including 16 in
the third period.
While the tie is certainly not the desired result, it shows that
the Ephs certainly are improving because it comes on a day when
they performed less than perfectly. Not only was Williams out shot
43-28, but the Panthers also held sizable advantages in power plays
(Williams: 4, Middlebury: 8) and penalty time (Williams: 18
minutes, Middlebury: 10 minutes).
This penalties were specifically crucial because Middlebury was
able to notch scores on two different power play opportunities,
including the games opening score where the Ephs had only three
skaters on the ice to the Panthers five skaters.
The Ephs twice responded from deficits with a pair of goals,
first when Masucci erased the Ephs first period hole just 1:35 into
the second period and then Draheim pulled the Ephs ahead just 3:37
later. And then again after the Panthers scored three consecutive
scores, when Fahey pulled the Ephs within one with just over ten
minutes remaining and then Troiani completed the comeback with just
2:33 to play in the third period.
The Ephs carried the late momentum into the overtime period and
nearly came out with the win, with a little help from two power
plays offered up by the Panthers. However, Middlebury held strong
and preserved the tie.
"I think the guys showed a lot of heart and determination
tonight," Ephs head coach Bill Kangas said. "It's something we can
build on as we prepare to travel up to Maine this weekend."
The Ephs will try to get back in the win column this Friday
night when the travel to face-off against NESCAC foe Colby. That
game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start.
