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WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS - A goal late in the third period by Connor Olvany '11 allowed the Williams College men's hockey team (4-0-1) to skate away with a tie against nationally ranked Manhattanville College (5-2-1).
The Ephs were down a goal on two separate occasions during the game -- 2-1 in the first period and 3-2 in the third period -- but both times they were able to battle back, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
Scoring for the Ephs were Olvany, who also had an assist, Eric Rubino '13, and co-captain Matt Masucci '11. Forward John Wickman '13 also tallied three assists on the night.
A big key to Williams' success so far this year has been their ability to get on the board early, and Sunday night was no exception. After a faceoff win, Wickman carried the puck quickly into the Manhattanville zone and found Ben Contini '11 skating down the middle of the ice. Contini made a touch pass to Rubino on the left side, who made a nice move across the crease and flicked the puck into the right side of the net to give Williams the early 1-0 lead.
Unlike the Ephs' previous opponents, however, Manhattanville would come back with a vengeance. Going on the power play near the five-minute mark, the Valiants were able to control the puck and throw it in front of the net, where Evan Michalchuck was waiting to tap it in and even the score at 1-1.
Manhattanville took a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later when Valiant defenseman Adam Young fired a wrist shot from the blue line that weaved through a crowd of players in front of the net and got past goaltender Ryan Purdy '12.
The Ephs would regain their momentum coming out of the locker room in the second period, however. After a number of good scoring chances early in the period, including a nice wraparound attempt by Brian Malchoff '11, Williams finally evened the score at 2-2 on a power play goal of their own.
Setting the puck up in the Manhattanville zone, the Eph power play unit made a series of sharp passes and moved the puck behind the net to Olvany, who tossed it front of the net. With a defender on his back, Masucci corralled the puck and lifted a wrist shot into the top right corner.
The score would remain this way until midway through the third period, when Lem Randall fired a slapshot into the net from the middle of the Williams zone to put Manhattanville up 3-2.
The Ephs fought back hard, attacking the offensive zone and getting shots on net in an attempt to tie the score. Their hard work finally paid off on a power play with less than four minutes left in the game, as Olvany corralled a bouncing, cross-ice pass from Evan Dugdale '13 on the left side and put the puck into the top left corner of the net.
"I thought we played better as the game went on," remarked Coach Bill Kangas. "[Tonight] was our first time being down, but we responded well and continued to compete."
Manhattanville made one last effort to take the lead late following Olvany's goal with a 2-on-1 breakaway with less than two minutes to go in regulation. Defenseman Stephen Maier '12 made a great play to stop the attack though, dropping to the ice and smothering a dangerous cross-ice pass.
Neither side could find the back of the net in overtime, as both goalies made key saves to keep their teams alive.
Purdy finished the night with 20 saves on 23 shots in 65 minutes of play, while Manhattanville goalie Pierre-Olivier Lemieux made 23 saves on 26 shots in 65 minutes of play.
The Ephs will get a well-deserved rest before heading to Maine on Friday afternoon to take on the University of New England Nor'easters (1-4-0). The puck drops at 4 PM.
