Box Score Box Score
HARTFORD, CT -- Trinity freshman forward Sean Orlando scored in the first and third periods to boost the host Bantams past visiting Williams, 2-1.
With the win Trinity moves into a tie for first place in NEESCAC with Amherst and Williams sits in third place. The top three teams in NECAC all have three losses with Trinity and Amherst at 11-3-0 and the Ephs at 9-3-2 in conference play.
Early on both teams were well matched up, exchanging multiple chances on each end. Junior forward Connor Coveney early on looked strong for the Bantams getting a good opportunity on Eph junior goalie Sean Dougherty, but Dougherty was able to stop both the original shot and Coveney's follow up attempt on his own rebound.
The Bantams were able to strike first via a power play. Williams' sophomore defenseman Greg Johnson was called for tripping with just under ten minutes left to play in the first period. Sean Orlando was able to capitalize on the extra man opportunity and score his 15th goal of the year with help from junior Michael Flynn who was credited with an assist.
Williams responded by constructing a few great opportunities but all were swatted aside by the Bantams' senior goaltender Ben Coulthard, who remained perfect throughout the first period, stopping all 16 shots he faced. Dougherty remained nearly perfect, stopping 12 of 13 shots by the Bantams.
Williams started off strong in the second, again creating multiple scoring chances. Senior assistant captain Tucker Dayton's shot on goal was stopped by Coulthard, but Dayton crashing the net, nearly knocked in the rebound before Coulthard was able to cover up.
Shortly after Eph freshman Luke Stickel was sent to the box for a tripping minor giving the Bantams their first solid opportunity of the second period. Sophomore Ben Hjalmarsson and junior Michael Flynn both had good opportunities on the power play but Dougherty was able to stand strong and deflect the shots away.
Williams was able to get on the scoreboard midway through the second session after a blocked shot by Eph sophomore Zander Masucci. Williams' freshman George Hunkele assisted on junior James McNamara's game-tying goal at 10:20. McNamara was able to lift the puck over the left pad of Coulthard after receiving the pass from Hunkele.
Dougherty registered another big stop on Trinity junior Greg Rooney before a power play was up and stayed perfect the rest of the period stopping 22 of 23 shots through the first 40 minutes, while Coulthard was able to stop 29 of Williams' 30 attempts.
"We played a lot better today than we did yesterday, we just came up short," said Eph head coach Bill Kangas. "We were definitely more engaged and connected today than we were last night. We knew it would be a low scoring game and a battle. We had our chances, but hey, it's always tough when you go on the road in this conference."
Fortunately for the Ephs three of their last four regular season games will be played at home in the Lansing Chapman Rink.
Next Friday the Ephs will open a back-to-back series with Middlebury with Friday night's 7:00 PM game being played at Middlebury and the Saturday night 7:00 PM contest being played in Williamstown.
The Ephs will then close out the regular season at home the following weekend when they host Hamilton on the 22nd at 7:00 PM and archrival Amherst at 3:00 PM on the 23rd.
