Box Score
BRUNSWICK, ME - The 9th ranked Williams College Ephs traveled to Brunswick, ME Friday evening to take on the 5th ranked Bowdoin College Polar Bears in a highly anticipated NESCAC matchup. Bowdoin skated away with a 3-2 victory before a packed house at the Sidney J. Watson Arena. Bowdoin's stifling power play defense was the story of the night, as they denied Williams on seven of eight Eph man advantages.
Williams got off to a quick start as Steve Maier scored at the 3:29 mark. Maier, who scored his first career goal last weekend, pinched in from his right point position to hammer home a rebound off the pads of Bowdoin goaltender Steve Messina. Matt Masucci and Ryan Young were credited with assists.
Bowdoin's powerplay would even the score three minutes later when Jeff Fanning beat Ryan Purdy. Assisting on the goal were Owen Smith and Daniel Weiniger.
Late in the period Williams was awarded their first powerplay when Matt Doyle was slashed driving to the net. The Ephs were unable to register any quality chances, as they ran into a stifling Polar Bear defense.
The second period belonged to the Polar Bears. Daniel Weiniger took a feed from Kyle Shearer-Hardy and beat Purdy high just nine seconds into the stanza to give Bowdoin the lead. At the 5:30 mark Bowdoin nearly made it 3-1, but Mike Brofft stepped in from of a Polar Bear shot headed for the back of the net.
Williams would have their best opportunities mid-way through the period when Bowdoin took three penalties in a row resulting in two 5 on 3 opportunities for the Ephs, but once again Messina and the rest of the Bowdoin power-play defense were up to the challenge.
Bowdoin would take a two-goal lead with 4:45 when Jordan Lolor beat Purdy with assists going to Hardy and Harry Matheson. Bowdoin would maintain the 3-1 advantage into the second intermission.
Williams came out strong in the third period, nearly cutting the lead to one at the 2:30 mark when Ben Contini put a shot just outside the left post. The elusive second goal would eventually come with 9:58 to play,when John Wickman scored his 7th goal of the year. Wickman took a pass in the slot from Masucci and placed it under the cross bar to cut the Bowdoin lead to one. The Ephs would continue to pressure the Polar bear as the period wore on. Matt Masucci nearly tied the game with 2:10 to play, but once again the shot went barely wide.
Coach Kangas, pleased with his squad's effort in the third, stated, "The team responded well in the 3rd and had some Grade-A chances, one of which we were able to convert on".
Ryan Purdy had an excellent night between the pipes for Williams, turning aside 26 shots. Bowdoin's Steve Messina was equally impressive stopping 23 Eph shots.
Looking forward to tomorrow's game at Colby, Kangas commented, "We need to get something going on the road. We need to build off of our good 3rd period and continue improving".
With the loss the Ephs move to 10-4-2, while Bowdoin improved 13-3-0. The Ephs will take the ice tomorrow afternoon at Colby College looking to get back to their winning ways. The puck is scheduled to drop in Waterville at 3 p.m.
