Box Score
WATERVILLE, ME – The 9th ranked Williams College Ephs traveled to Colby College Saturday afternoon in hopes of getting back in the win column. Standing in the way was a feisty Colby squad who defeated the Ephs 6-3.
Colby's Nick Lanza scored the first goal of the contest at the 9:51 mark of the first period. Cody Skinner would immediately respond for the Ephs, scoring an unassisted goal at the 10:28 mark. Five minutes later Williams would gain their first and only lead of the affair when Justin Troiani found Mike Brofft for the tally. Also assisting on the goal was Evan Dugdale. Williams would not be able to enjoy the lead for long as Wil Hartigan beat Ryan Purdy 1:11 later to knot the game at two goals apiece.
Neither the Ephs nor the Mules were able to get any offence going early in the second period. That would change after Williams' Mike Brofft took a penalty for holding. On the power-play Colby's Jack Bartlett wristed home a feed from Billy Crinnion to give the Mules the lead. Seven minutes later, Justin Troiani would put the puck past the Colby's net-minder Cody McKinney to tie the game at three. In the final minute of the period, Colby's Patrick Bursee ripped a shot off the post that would bounce to the stick of Mike Doherty who was able to slide the puck into the net to give Colby a lead they would not surrender.
The third period belonged to the Mules. Matt Doherty scored his second goal of the game at the 6:26 mark and Billy Crinnion added and empty net goal to guarantee the upset victory with 37 seconds to play. Williams was only able to generate five shots in the third, while Colby was able to register ten shots on the Eph goaltenders over the final twenty minutes.
Cody McKinney got the win between the pipes for the Mules stopping 20 of 23 Eph shots. Ryan Purdy took the loss for Williams saving 27 of 32 shots in 46 minutes of play. Freshman Sean Donnelly saw his first career action turning aside all three shots he faced in twelve minutes of play.
The loss pushes Williams' record to 10-5-2 (7-4-1 NESCAC) while Colby improves to 7-9-1 (6-6-1 NESCAC).
Williams will look to get back on track next weekend when they travel north to Burlington, VT to take on the St. Michael's College Purple Knights in a Friday evening contest. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7 P.M.
