Box Score
BOX SCORE
BALTIMORE, MD -- Despite an aggressive comeback effort in the fourth quarter, the Williams College Ephs (5-2/ 3-1 NESCAC) narrowly lost today's contest against the Union College Dutchmen (6-1), 8-7. The game, which had been tied 3-3 at the half, came to a close less than a minute into overtime.
This was their first of two games to be played in Baltimore, Maryland over the Ephs' spring break trip.
The Ephs are quite familiar with close games, and this was no exception. It was tied at 7-7 when the fourth quarter expired, leading to the team's first overtime period of the season. Dutchman Jake Quinn clinched the victory for Union with the eighth goal.
The stakes were particularly high today. Though the match was out of conference, each squad entered with an impressive 5-1 record. The teams share a bitter history: Williams has beaten Union by one goal each of the past two years. A victory would have carried on that tradition as well as maintain this season's recent winning streak.
Prolific scorer Jack Lauroesch put Williams on the board early into the first quarter, with the first goal of the game. Union responded immediately, winning the faceoff and gaining offensive control.
The next few minutes yielded two goals for Union, scored by Rob Santangelo and Jack Schuefele.
However, with 2:56 remaining Eric Kelley put the Ephs back in the game with a shot from the wing, assisted by Peter Crane. At 2-2, it became clear that another neck-and-neck battle would follow.
Though Union won the faceoff to open the second quarter, Williams struck first. Defenseman Ben Allison gained possession and worked the ball down to his teammates on attack. With 11:06 remaining, Andy Grabowski tipped the score in the Ephs' favor with a goal assisted by Michael Fahey.
A slashing penalty followed by a Union timeout indicated that the Dutchmen were becoming frustrated. The Ephs capitalized by firing off eleven shots in the next several minutes.
However, with 1:53 remaining it was Union who found the back of the net. The teams split for halftime with three goals apiece.
Union would begin to pull away in the third quarter, challenging their opponents to keep up offensively. An early goal, followed by two more toward the end of the quarter, put the score at 6-3 in the Dutchmen's favor.
Each team's defenses had to come alive in the third quarter, and despite the scoring deficit Whittam made a number of crucial saves in that period.
The Ephs were trailing when the fourth quarter began, but that would quickly change. Andy Grabowski, Tanner MacIvor, and Jack Lauroesch each tallied a goal within the first three minutes of the quarter. It was anyone's game at 6-6.
David Lee had a strong presence on the faceoffs, putting the Ephs in a good position to take the lead. With 9:49 remaining in the game the Dutchmen finally regained possession, though they were unable to score.
Union's Richard Gregory was called for slashing, giving Williams an edge with a man-up situation. Tanner MacIvor scored his second goal of the contest, and what would be the Ephs' last of the game.
Several more minutes of evenly matched play kept both teams in suspense as the Ephs tried to run down the clock.
Tom Stanton netted the goal that would keep Union in the game. With 1:57 remaining, the score was 7-7. When time expired, four overtime minutes were added to the game clock.
The Ephs began the period with ball possession and two subsequent shot attempts. However, Quinn took advantage of a successful Union clear, scoring less than a minute into the period. The sudden-death victory would go to the Dutchmen.
Coach McCormack took pride in his team's fourth quarter perseverance: "We played okay lacrosse for three quarters, but we really picked it up at the end. We had a good chance to win it both in regulation and overtime."
He also pointed out his team's determination: "Our ability to come back shows a lot of character."
They certainly do seem ready to take on the second half of their season.
The Ephs outshot their opponents 42 to 30, and had fewer turnovers. They also won twice as many faceoffs. Union goalkeeper Stefan Basille had fifteen saves to Whittam's eight.
Williams faces top team Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, March 28 at Johns Hopkins University.
