NEW LONDON, CT – Gabby Vukasin's (Princeton, NJ) overtime goal sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Connecticut College Friday evening in first game of the last regular season series for the Ephs.
The Ephs held the lead all night thanks to a goal apiece from senior captains Sam Weinstein (Marblehead, MA) and Aimee Dennett (Highlands Ranch, CO), but it took 39 seconds of extra time to down the scrappy home team.
A few minutes in, the home team saw one of their best scoring chances of the frame with a rebound attempt in front of the net. Eph goalie Chloe Billadeau (Chaska, MN) denied the bid, and the Ephs showed excellent transition, immediately setting up a solid scoring opportunity of their own. Cristina Bravi (Quebec, CN) streaked down the right side and got a tricky shot off to test Conn. goaltender Kelsie Fralick. Fralick, currently the top goalie in D3 women's ice hockey, kept the visitors at bay, but only momentarily.
The Ephs took charge and broke the scoreless draw at the 10:52 mark with an unassisted goal coming from Weinstein (Marblehead, MA). The senior defensemen showed some wheels as she blew by the Camel defenders and made no mistake on the play, surprising Fralick and finding the net to give Williams a 1-0 advantage.
The Ephs continued the relentless attack for the remainder of the period, continually keeping Fralick busy in the net. She would not let the Ephs extend their lead, and the score would remain 1-0 in favor of Williams headed into the locker room.
Despite a scoreless middle frame, it was not without action. With 15 minutes to go in the second, the Ephs would have a golden opportunity to extend their lead when two Camel penalties gave them a 5-on-3 advantage. Fralick and the Conn. penalty kill unit managed to turn away shot after shot until an Eph penalty made it a 4-on-3 situation.
The Camels would see a brief man-up chance of their own, but all penalties would expire with neither side able to capitalize.
The excitement failed to cease as Conn. stole the offensive momentum and remained ruthless on the attack for the remainder of the frame. Their best chance to equalize came with 6:33 to go, but an unbelievable defensive play by Weinstein, who put her body between the puck and the goal, prevented the equalizer.
The Camels posted a dominating 16 shots on goal to Williams' 7 during the second frame.
Undeterred by their failure to capitalize despite several opportunities, Conn. carried their offensive momentum into the final frame and wasted no time in getting on the board. Their shots on goal advantage would pay off 30 seconds in, as Leah Kallen got the puck by Billadeau to make it an even contest. Amanda Bogue was credited with the assist.
"Conn came out in the third ready to start, and scored 30 seconds in. The team showed a ton of character though in response to the quick goal, and we had a lot of good pressure to start the third," commented head coach Meghan Gillis.
The Camels would see a chance to take the lead for the first time of the night when a powerplay chance allowed the offense to take control of the puck. Conn. put pressure on Billadeau, peppering her with shot after shot, but she stood tall between the pipes.
The 1-1 tie would quickly be broken, thanks to stellar transition from the Ephs, who stole the lead once again directly after killing the penalty. The sophomore tandem of Caitlin Conlon (Sudbury, MA) and Nitsan Goldstein (Ithaca, NY) found Dennett in the slot, who sent the puck past Fralick to put the Ephs up 2-1 with 5:30 remaining.
Dennett's tally came 30 seconds after her penalty expired. "Aimee Dennett took a penalty, and came on the ice and scored right after. Both captains really stepped up and showed great leadership tonight, scoring the two goals in regulation," added Gillis.
Once again however, the Camels clawed back. It looked as if a Conn. penalty with 3:55 remaining would seal the deal for Williams, but it did not prove to complicate the home team's comeback effort. Playing shorthanded, Courtney Dumont took a shot through an Eph defender's legs and Billadeau never saw the puck. Dumont's tally, aided by Samantha Schuffenecker would knot up the contest once again.
Despite the shorthanded goal, Gillis was pleased with how her team regrouped, stating, "The team showed really good focus and mental toughness and even though it was tied at the 17:14 mark, we turned it up another notch, battled, and played really hard for the remainder of regulation."
With one minute remaining, the Camels dug themselves a hole with another penalty. While the home team kept Williams at bay for the remainder of regulation, the Ephs would need only 39 seconds to clinch the victory.
Weinstein fired a shot, which Fralick managed to block, but Vukasin was waiting for the rebound and tipped it home to seal the deal 3-2. Conlon also picked up an assist on the winning goal.
It was Vukasin's second overtime game-winner of the season, her first coming against Castleton State on January 22.
Billadeau finished the game with an impressive 36 saves, while Fralick stopped 26 bids.
Tonight's win secured a playoff berth for the Ephs, their 8th playoff appearance. Tomorrow's game against Conn. will still be crucial in determining post-season seeding. The puck drops at 3pm.
