Box
Score
MEDFORD, MA –
Williams men's hockey (2-0-0) completed a conference sweep this
weekend with a win today over Tufts by a final of 2-0 at Valley
Forum II in Medford. The Jumbos start the year 0-1-1 after drawing
even with Middlebury yesterday evening 3-3.
The Ephs took a little while to get
things going in the first period, as they were hampered by
penalties. The penalty kill nullified the man-advantages
successfully, and the offense started to get going later in the
frame, launching pucks on net and testing the reflexes of Jumbo
netminder Scott Barchard. Junior forward Ben Contini had the best
opportunity of the first twenty minutes, as he made a move and
ripped a wrist shot towards the upper corner, only to be snagged by
the glove of Barchard, one of 14 saves he made in the period. Eph
senior goaltender Marc Pulde also held firm between the pipes,
denying 11 Jumbo tries.
The first score of the game came
towards the tail end of the middle period, when Wickman's off-angle
blast ricocheted onto the stick of sophomore Justin Troiani, who
lifted it inside the right post to give Williams a 1-0 lead. Senior
captain Alex Smigelski registered an assist on the goal as well.
Pulde was in control again, stopping 13 more shots in the second
frame.
Williams came up with two more big
penalty kills in the third period, as they clung to the slim one
goal advantage with effective puck possession and smart clears. The
Ephs put the game away after Barchard was pulled in the final
minute. Wickman lead Smigelski down the ice and he finished the
rest, sliding the puck into the empty net for the game-deciding
score.
Pulde finished with 35 saves en
route to the fourth shutout of his career. He made big saves on the
penalty kill and was consistently well-positioned in the creece
throughout the night. Williams defense did a solid job of cutting
off passing lanes and clearing the puck away from the front of
their net against a quick and aggressive Tufts' offense.
The purple and gold will host a
non-conference match versus the historically formidable Babson
program next weekend. Faceoff is scheduled for 3 PM next Saturday
at Lansing Chapman rink.
