Box Score
AMHERST, MA— Despite taking an early lead, Williams fell to defending National Champions Amherst tonight, 10-1. Freshman Cristina Bravi netted the lone score for the Ephs less than a minute into the game, but the Lord Jeffs would tally 10 unanswered goals for the win.
The first period started off on a high note for the Ephs. Williams came out on fire, recording the game's first goal only 40 seconds into the contest. Bravi put the Ephs up 1-0, with help from freshman Ally Ensor.
"We had a great first shift tonight," Williams coach Joey Lye said, "We were able to put the puck in the net right off the bat, and we saw what happens when we crash the net hard."
Amherst evened up the game four minutes later when junior Stephanie Clegg was able to bury a shot past Eph freshman goalie Rachel Nguyen. With under four minutes to play in the opening period, sophomore Kaitlyn McInnis would record what proved to be the game-winner with her first goal of the game. After 20 minutes, the contest was a close 2-1 in favor of Amherst.
Penalties hurt the Ephs in the middle period, allowing the Lord Jeffs to break open the game with 4 goals in the frame. McInnis netted her second score of the contest for the 3-1 lead 4:21 into the period. Sophomore Geneva Lloyd, freshman Barrett McBride, and senior Courtney Hanlon would record a powerplay goal each to help the Jeffs close out the 2nd with the 6-1 advantage.
Two goals early in the third period would bring Amherst to a 9-1 lead only 5 minutes into the final frame. Junior Ellen Swiontowski sent a hard wrister past sophomore Catherine Tremble's blocker after 35 seconds, off assists from McBride and Clegg. Sopohomore Megan Doyen recorded the Jeffs' next two goals, picking up a loose puck in front of the net for both scores. McBride finalized the game's 10-1 score with 2:48 remaining in the final period.
Junior Sinead Murphy turned away all but the Ephs' first shot, stopping 14 attempts between the pipes for Amherst. Nguyen was credited with 22 saves in net for the Ephs.
"After they started to put the puck in the net, we weren't playing as a team," Lye noted, "The effort was there, but the energy was going toward the wrong things. We just didn't execute very well. That said, I was very impressed by our attitude in the third period. We didn't give up, and we played hard all the way through."
Lye noted that Nguyen, senior captain Lauren Zurek, and senior Mimi McClatchey stood out tonight for the Ephs. The #7 Jeffs improve to 14-5-2 (12-2-1 NESCAC), while the Ephs fall to 4-12-1 (3-9-1 NESCAC) on the year. Williams has a chance to avenge the loss tomorrow afternoon, when the Ephs challenge Amherst again at 3 pm in Orr Rink.
