WILLIAMSTOWN, MA— In their second non-conference contest of the season, Williams fell 3-1 to ECAC foe Utica College. All three Pioneer goals were scored in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Although the Ephs held a 16-7 shot advantage in the first period, the opening frame ended scoreless. Both teams skated hard, creating excellent scoring opportunities and stellar defensive plays. The Ephs almost capitalized on a powerplay 13 minutes into the game, when sophomore Sam Weinstein sent the puck across the high slot to classmate Nicolle Perry, who wristed a shot on net that was barely deflected by Pioneer netminder Marissa Hotaling.
Williams concluded the period with a great penalty kill, denying several Pioneer attempts. Weinstein, sliding across the ice, blocked a slapshot from the blue line by a Utica defenseman. On a later play, Williams netminder Catherine Tremble saved a point blank shot from the low slot to keep the game scoreless.
The Ephs got on the board early in the middle frame, notching a 1-0 lead 1:14 into the period. On a powerplay, Perry controlled the puck off a faceoff in the Utica defensive zone and sent the puck back to Weinstein at the point, who walked the puck in and sent a hard wrist shot past Hotaling for the score.
Williams kept the pressure on the Pioneers for the remainder of the second period. About three minutes after Weinstein's tally, Eph freshman Ally Ensor took a hard slapshot from the point that deflected off the post, just missing another Williams score.
Utica had their best scoring attempt of the middle frame halfway through the period, when senior Darcy Hier picked up a loose puck at center ice for a breakaway. Hier pulled across the crease and attempted a backhand shot, but Tremble made another impressive point blank save to keep the game scoreless. With 3:30 to play in the period, Kate Foley made a solid defensive play for the Ephs, knocking away a pass across the low slot intended for Utica's leading scorer, freshman Megan Myers, to maintain Williams' lead.
The Pioneers, however, would not be deterred. Down by a goal to start the third period, Utica tied up the game only 1:27 into the final frame. Meagan Sudick and Meghan McMahon worked the puck around in Williams' defensive corner, then sent a pass to Tiffany Bichrest next to the net. Bichrest was able to wrist a low-angle shot past Tremble for the equalizer.
Utica took the lead for the first time in the game, taking advantage of a powerplay with 12:33 remaining in the contest. Senior Becky Heim received a pass from teammate Myers on the point, slapping a hard shot by Tremble's blocker side to give the Pioneers the 2-1 edge.
During the final three minutes of the game, the Ephs were relentless on offense, keeping Hotaling busy with a barrage of shots. Playing with an empty net after pulling Tremble, Williams pressured the Pioneers with a man-up advantage until the final ticks of the contest. However, Utica would notch one more goal when Lynny Gonzales ripped a long wrist shot from behind her blue line for a buzzer-beater, off a pass from Hier, to finalize the game at 3-1.
Despite the closing score, the Ephs racked up a 43-24 shot advantage. Tremble made 21 saves in net for Williams, while her counterpart Hotaling turned away 42 Eph shots.
"We played 55 minutes of great hockey tonight," Williams coach Joey Lye said, "but those five minutes we didn't really hurt us."
Williams now posts a 1-6 record overall (1-4 NESCAC), while Utica improves to 7-4. In spite of the outcome of tonight's game, Lye was impressed by her team's intensity. "I was really proud of our hustle and effort tonight, and am looking to end the semester on a high note this Saturday."
The Ephs conclude the 2010 portion of their season with an exhibition matchup against URI this Saturday at 3 pm.
