Box Score
Williamstown, MA – Williams (10-3-4/7-3-1 NESCAC) and Tufts (8-7-1/6-5-0 NESCAC) both came out aggressively tonight but the Ephs fell behind early and were never able to get back on top as Tufts colleted a 3-2 OT win.
Nick Anderson's 3rd period equalizer tied the game for the Ephs and brought it to over time, but it was Kyle Gallegos' overtime finish lifted the Tufts University Jumbos over the Ephs 3-2.
Coming off of a high scoring 5-4 victory over the Colby Mules last weekend, the Williams College men's ice hockey team hosted the Tufts University Jumbos. The Jumbos entered Lansing Chapman Rink tonight coming off of an overtime win last weekend against Wesleyan University.
Although the Ephs had the momentum in their favor to begin the first period, the Jumbos would find the back of the net first. In spite of several scoring chances by the Ephs, the first goal would be scored by Tufts. The Jumbos' goal came by way of a slap shot from the left point by Tufts freshman defenseman, Shawn Power. Power's goal came off of an Eph turnover in their own defensive end only five minutes into the opening period, and was unnassited.
Despite falling behind early in the game, the discipline of the Ephs showed as they were able to regroup and respond in a timely fashion to bring the score back to even at one goal a piece.
Evan Dugdale found his senior captain Ryan Scott who fired a slap shot towards Jumbos net minder Scott Barchard. Barchard knocked it down but could not cover it up before Williams freshman forward Craig Kitto was able to bat it out of the air and into the net.
Although the Jumbos came very close to adding one more goal in the first on a counter attack with only three minutes remaining in the period, Kitto's goal would be the final one of the first period and both teams headed to their locker rooms in preparation for the second period with the score knotted at 1.
Again Williams College came out strong to open the period and produced scoring chances in the opening minute of play, but were not able to take advantage of their opportunities.
Very much like the first period, the Jumbos would be the first to find the back of the net. Tufts freshman forward Tyler Voigt gave the Jubos their lead back as he took it himself all the way down the right side after an Ephs turnover. Voigt beat Williams senior goalie Ryan Purdy with a wrist shot to Purdy's glove side. Power was credited with the assist.
The second period was a physical one. Each team was out to prove what they were made of. As the Ephs battled to bring the score back to even, they showed no signs of backing down.
Williams controlled possession for the closing minutes of the second period and even with a man advantage and a multitude of shots, the Ephs were not able to beat the Jumbos' senior goalie Barchard. The second period ended in the middle of the Williams power play with the score in the favor of the Jumbos, 2-1.
Tufts University opened the third period a man down but was able to kill of the remainder of the Ephs power play.
Each team had their stint in their opponent's defensive zone, with both teams racking up over 20 shots in the period. The Ephs kept the pressure on throughout the rest of the period and were finally able to put one home as Ephs senior defenseman Stephen Maier's slap shot from the point was redirected by Ephs sophomore forward Nick Anderson to beat the Jumbos' goalie with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation.
The momentum was all with the Ephs as the third period was nearing its end. Ephs junior forward Evan Dugdale had a great opportunity to give his team the lead in the closing minutes as Anderson crossed the puck to him, but Dugdale's one timer wasn't enough to beat Barchard.
Following a Jumbos tripping penalty with only 1:58 left in the game, the Ephs would have a man advantage for the rest of the 3rd period. As they continued to fire shots at Barchard, who seemed to be a brick wall in goal tonight, the Ephs could not score the game-winner, and the third period ended tied at 2.
"It was his night tonight," Ephs head coach Bill Kangas said of Jumbos goalie, Barchard. "He gave his team a lot of confidence. We had some some grade-A chances. Give hime a lot of credit."
As the overtime period began, Tufts was whistled for their fourth penalty of the game when Jumbos sophomore forward Kyle Gallegos was caught crosschecking a Williams College opponent.
The Ephs mustered up seven shots in the overtime period, but could not manage to put one in the goal even with the man advantage.
Shortly after Gallegos was released from the penalty box, he would score the game-winner, four minutes into the five-minute sudden death overtime period. Jumbos freshman defender Blake Edwards took a slapshot from the left point and Gallegos was there to redirect it past Purdy and into the net for the game winner.
The Ephs will get back at it tomorrow afternoon when the puck drops right here in Lansing Chapman Rink at 3 PM. The Ephs will take on the Camels of Connecticut College (5-10-2) who are coming off of an important win at Middlebury. The Jumbos are to face off against Middlebury tomorrow night at 7pm.
