WILLIAMSTOWN -- Two late goals in the final five minutes by the Bowdoin College Polar Bears erased a two-goal lead for the Williams College Men's Hockey team and forced a 3-3 tie in the Ephs' season opener at Lansing Chapman Rink.
Williams started out fast in a rematch of last year's NESCAC title game, taking an early advantage with the aid of two goals from forward Eric Rubino '13. In the end, however, they could not hold on as Bowdoin's Daniel Weiniger and Robert Toczylowski each scored within the last five minutes to draw the score even. Neither squad could score in overtime, and the game ended in a 3-3 tie.
The game got off to a very physical start, as both teams took penalties within the game's first minute. Forward Mark Lyons '13 set the tone for the Ephs early on with a massive hit on a Bowdoin defender into the side boards.
Williams also got some opportunities on offense, the first coming from freshman forward Craig Kitto '15, who escaped on a breakaway two minutes into the action but was denied by Bowdoin goalie Steve Messina.
The best chance for the Ephs came at about the halfway point of the first period with a 3-on-1 rush into the offensive zone. Forward Nick Anderson '14 skated down the left side, avoided a diving Bowdoin defender with a deke, and sent a centering pass to Rubino in front of the net. Rubino's shot sailed just over the crossbar, and play was whistled dead as a Bowdoin defender dislodged the net.
On the defensive end, Purdy aided the strong Williams defense with several sprawling saves to keep the score knotted at 0-0 at the end of the 1st period.
The Ephs got a strong effort all night from Purdy, who garnered Second Team All-Conference honors last season as a junior. The senior goaltender notched 35 saves on 38 shots in 65:00 minutes of play. For Bowdoin, Messina stopped 25 shots on 28 attempts in 63:51 minutes of play.
Williams drew first blood six minutes into the second period when Rubino deposited the first goal of the season for the Ephs. The goal was set up by Anderson and John Wickman '13, who both worked to get the puck on net. Messina deflected Anderson's scoring attempt away, but Rubino was waiting on the left post and flipped it past Messina's pad to put the Ephs up 1-0.
Bowdoin responded five minutes later, taking advantage of a power play when Williams was whistled for too many men on the ice. The Polar Bear equalizer was scored by defenseman Ryan Collier, who fired a wrist shot from top of the right circle to even the score at 1-1.
With the score tied, the Ephs continued to put pressure on Messina late into the second period. Their pressure paid off with less than two minutes to go, as Rubino collected his second goal of the night. Anderson set up the play by finding a wide-open Ryan Scott '12 near the blue line. The 6'9" Scott blasted a slap shot on net, and Rubino got his stick on the puck once again to redirect it past Messina. The goal gave Williams a crucial 2-1 advantage heading into the final frame.
The Ephs caught a break at the 12-minute mark of the third with an empty-net goal from forward David Jarrett '15. Thinking there was a delayed penalty, the Bowdoin goalie vacated the net and made his way to the Bowdoin bench, where Jarrett corralled the puck for the Ephs. The freshman lofted it into the open goal, and after further discussion from the referees, the goal stood as called, giving Williams a commanding 3-1 lead.
Just when it looked as though the Ephs would secure their first victory, the Polar Bears came roaring back with less than five minutes to go. Williams called a timeout with three minutes remaining, but Bowdoin won the ensuing faceoff and threw the puck on net. Purdy made the initial save, but Weiniger snuck the puck past him on the rebound attempt to narrow the deficit to 3-2 with 2:21 remaining.
With less than two minutes to go, the Bowdoin offense struck again. Creating another rebound opportunity, Toczylowski was able to corral the puck in front of Purdy and sneak it by his left pad for the equalizing goal.
The Ephs did not go away quietly, as Mike Brofft '13 nearly netted the game-winner on a wrist shot from the left side with less than ten seconds remaining in regulation. The Polar Bears drew a power play in overtime but were unable to capitalize, and the game ended in a deadlock.
Despite some defensive lapses late in the game, Head Coach Bill Kangas noted that there were some positives to take away from his team's season opener.
"Overall, we moved the puck well and did some little things well," said Kangas. "They are a good team. It's the first game of the year, you never know what you are going to get. It was a very competitive game."
The Ephs hope to pick up their first win on Sunday afternoon against another NESCAC foe. They face the Colby Mules at 3 PM at Lansing Chapman Rink.
