WILLIAMSTOWN, MA—Following their victory over Wesleyan last Saturday, the Ephs extended their unbeaten streak to two games tonight, splitting this evening's overtime contest with Connecticut College 3-3. Three different Ephs recorded goals, while Conn freshman Courtney Dumont tallied all three of her team's scores.
The Camels got on the board first, notching their first goal of the evening only 6:21 into the game. Dumont carried the puck from the low right corner into the slot and backhanded a high gloveside shot just over the reach of Williams netminder Rachel Nguyen for the score.
Shortly after, however, the Ephs had a chance to even up the game. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first period, Williams sophomore Becca Nichols forced a turnover on the Ephs' blue line. Carrying the puck up the right side of the ice, Nichols created a 1-on-1 with a Camels defender and managed to get off a shot, but the attempt was turned away by sophomore goalie Amy Leichliter.
Eliza Foster would net the equalizer, her first goal of the season, with just over 7 minutes to play in the middle period. Nicolle Perry carried the puck into the Camels' defensive zone for a 2-on-1 with Foster. Perry found Foster streaking in to the cage, sliding the puck to Foster, who placed the shot past Leichliter to bring the score to 1-1.
Conn retaliated shortly after Foster's goal. With 2 seconds remaining on their second powerplay of the frame, Dumont recorded her second tally of the game with 4:29 to play. The Ephs, however, would not be in the hole for long. Just over a minute later, Nichols tied the contest at 2-2. Freshman Cristina Bravi, a standout tonight for the Ephs, and junior Kristen Tubbs worked the puck around low, then slid a pass to Nichols. Nichols wristed a high blocker side shot for her first goal of the season.
With the score tied heading into the game's final period, both teams skated hard to try and gain the advantage. The first opportunity of the frame came with just under 14 minutes remaining in the contest. Deep in Williams' defensive zone, Dumont crossed the puck from the low right corner to a waiting Olivia Farrell in the slot. With Nguyen still on the post, Farrell slid a shot on the ice toward the open net, but the attempt was stopped just outside the crease by a Williams defender to maintain the 2-2 score.
The Camels would finally get the upper hand with 5:24 remaining in the game. On a powerplay, Dumont netted her third goal of the game to give Conn the 3-2 edge, with help from Ariel DiPasquale and Paige Murray.
Williams refused to give up, fighting back to even up the contest at 3-3 with 3:25 to play. A Camels penalty gave the Ephs the man-up advantage, which Williams soon capitalized on. After the Ephs tested Leichliter with several shots, Bravi put home a loose puck in front of the net for the score.
In overtime, neither team would budge. Leichliter and Nguyen came up with several key saves to preserve the tie, while the Ephs and Camels skated hard on both sides of the puck. By the final buzzer, however, neither team would gain the final advantage.
"We forechecked really well tonight and carried the puck into the offensive zone better than I've seen all season," Williams coach Joey Lye said, "When we were calm we got some good looks at the net and had some pretty goals."
The tie brings Williams' record to 4-10-1 overall (3-7-1 NESCAC), while the Camels improve to 9-8-2 overall (5-5-1 NESCAC). Both netminders were strong between the pipes, with Nguyen turning away 39 shots and Leichliter recording 31 saves.
Williams will look to extend its unbeaten streak to three games tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm, when the Hamilton Continentals travel to Lansing-Chapman Rink.
