Ephs Win On Senior Day, 5-1 Over Hamilton

Box Score

Williamstown, MA – The Williams College men's ice hockey team (11-8-5, 8-8-2) celebrated Senior Class Recognition Day this afternoon as they hosted the Hamilton Continentals (8-13-3, 4-12-2).

Senior defenseman, Justin Troiani scored the go ahead goal for the Ephs in the second period and they would never look back. Williams would cruise to a 5-1 victory in their final regular season home game.

"It is important to get off to a good start," Ephs' head coach Bill Kangas mentioned. "We won all three periods tonight."

Hoping to give the Ephs' seniors a proper goodbye to regular season play here in Chapman Lansing Rink, Williams College came out strong keeping the pressure on the Continental defense.

Despite the five power plays in the first period, neither team was able to capitalize until the fifteenth minute of the first, when freshman forward, Peter Mistretta found junior forward Mark Lyons right in front of the net. Lyons redirected Mistretta's pass to the far post to beat Gibbar and broke the 0-0 tie. 

As the Ephs were whistled for their second penalty of the game in the closing minutes of the period, Hamilton's power play took the ice but great play from the Williams' penalty kill fought off the power play and ended the period with a 1-0 advantage. 

Hamilton came out strong to open the second period scoring just 5 minutes in. Continentals' freshman forward, Joe Rausch found his own rebound and fired a wrist shot right over Purdy's glove. Rausch's goal brought the score back to even at 1-1.

The Ephs didn't take long to respond, as they were able to take the lead back on their next power play. Troiani was able to beat Gibbar with help from freshman forward Kraig Kitto and junior forward Evan Dugdale. Troiani's goal would prove to be the game winner.

Immidiatley after Brofft's goal, a scrum in front of the Hamilton net lead to a five minute major for Gibbar as well as two other minor penalties for Hamilton and two minors for the Ephs. This would leave play at even strength, four on four. 

In the closing minutes of the period, the Ephs would tack on one more to give themselves a 4-1 lead headed into the third and final period. During an Ephs power play, the puck came loose in front of Continental's back up net minder, sophomore, Joe Quattrocchi and Ephs' junior forward, Cody Skinner was able to put it home and extend the Ephs' lead to three.

To begin the third period, Quattrocchi remained in goal for Hamilton and Gibbar would not return.

The Ephs, determined to finish strong, opened the final period with a scoring chance as sophomore defenseman, Paul Steinig crossed the puck to Dayton who wasn't able to beat Quattrocchi on the one-timer.

Williams kept the pressure on and would score their fifth and final goal on a power play just under five minutes into the period. Sophomore forward Nick Anderson found Kitto's rebound and put it past Quattrocchi. Anderson would cap off the scoring for the afternoon and seal the win for the Ephs, 5-1.

"We played two great periods last night and three great periods tonight," Kangas said. "We have been playing well lately and I'm excited to see what this team is capeable of."