Box Score
Williamstown, Ma --- The Ephs lost a heartbreaker to Bowdoin College 8-7. The Williams seniors, playing their last game on Renzie Lamb Field, left everything on the turf. Led by Tommy Murray's '11 three assists, the Ephs fought their way back from an early three goal deficit to keep the outcome in doubt until the final seconds.
Matt Cranshaw '11 powered the Eph offense all day, starting off with a long pass over two defenders to Mike Ryan '12 who put home the opening goal.
Despite scoring the first goal, Williams did not seem comfortable at the start. Bowdoin rattled off four goals in a row to put the Ephs down three. Ben Chadwick took advantage of catching Williams with their offensive midfielders back on defense to score for the Polar Bears. Billy Bergner added the next two for Bowdoin and Keegan Mellhorn scored to cap the run.
Being down three instilled a sense of urgency into Williams. The offense executed their plays, moving the ball quickly and getting good looks at the cage. These efforts paid off as Tommy Murray found Will Stewart '13 who ripped a shot inside the left post to make the score 4-2.
The Ephs continued their solid offensive play into the second quarter. Sam Hargrove '12 threw a long pass over the entire Bowdoin defense to a waiting Michael Acierno '12. The junior midfielder quickly fired a shot that found the back of the net.
Bowdoin responded as Chadwick found Mellhorn on the crease to push the lead back to two. Hargrove and the Ephs were determined to keep the Polar Bears within reach. Mike Ryan found his fellow junior who did a quick split dodge before bouncing the ball into the goal.
The Ephs defense had trouble communicating on Bowdoin's pick and roll offense, but Henry Mills '11 came up with a big save to keep the deficit at one heading into halftime.
Neither team could get much going in the third quarter. Keegan Mellhorn scored his third of the day while Sam Hargrove took advantage of an extra-man opportunity to make the score 6-5.
The fourth quarter did not start well for the Ephs. Bowdoin successfully killed a penalty then Nathan Fritts added a goal to extend the margin to two. The Ephs would not go down easily.
Tommy Murray took control of the offense, first finding a cutting Sam Hargrove for his third goal of the day. Then Murray scooped up a loose ball and hit a wide-open Matt Cranshaw for the game-tying goal.
The Polar Bears took the lead after the Williams defense challenged a loose ball, leaving Fritts open on the crease. The ball popped out of the scrum right to Keegan Mellhorn who wasted no time in getting it to Fritts for the go-ahead goal.
The Ephs resilience showed as they had their chances down the stretch. Murray set up a great opportunity for Hargrove. But as he took the shot, the wet ball appeared to slip in his stick causing it to sail high.
The Eph defense hustled to give their offense one more shot. David Fitzpatrick set up a double team that gave Williams the ball with 1:34 left. After a Matt Cranshaw shot went high, a turnover gave the ball back to Bowdoin. Alex Mendels and Greg White forced another Bowdoin turnover, and the ball ended up with Will Stewart. Stewart hurried down the field and took a long shot as time expired. Bowdoin goalie Jack McCampbell made the save to secure the victory.
McCampbell finished with 11 saves and allowed 8 goals. Henry Mills had 9 saves and gave up 8 goals.
The win secures a spot for Bowdoin in the NESCAC tournament while extinguishing the postseason hopes of the Ephs.
Coach George McCormack noted the competitiveness of the game pointing to "a hundred little different things we would have liked to change." He was especially proud of how the seniors stepped up today and told the guys after the loss to appreciate their leadership and send them out the right way.
The Ephs have one game remaining in their season, travelling up to Middlebury on Friday. Williams looks to upset the rival Panthers and end the season on a high note. Game time is at 4:30 p.m.
