Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Bridget Malicki's 5-point outing was not enough for No. 18 Williams (7-8, 3-8 NESCAC) to defeat No. 1 Trinity (15-1, 9-1 NESCAC). Five consecutive goals from the Bantams decided the contest, with Clare Lyne's tally at 14:49 proving to be the game winner. The NESCAC Quarterfinal loss will most likely conclude the 2015 season – one that witnessed the Ephs in the top 20 of the IWLCA Coaches Poll for the entirety of the spring. Malicki's five points places her in fourth in the conference in assists and seventh in total points scored.
In what was a high scoring first half performance for both teams, Trinity's Renee Olsen dodged past her defender and whistled a shot into the back of the net at 28:49 to open the game's scoring. After exchanging turnovers, Lyne threaded a pass to Molly Cox, who eked a shot past Williams netminder Margaret Draper. Williams' Natalie Gill controlled the ensuing draw and nearly found the back of the net, but her shot sailed wide of the cage. Nancy Palmer avenged Gill's mishap seconds later via Bridget Malicki's centering feed to bring the Ephs within one.
After the Bantams gathered a 3-1 lead, senior Hillary Cook forced Trinity goaltender Zoe Ferguson to forfeit the ball, and subsequently rifled the ball into an empty net. Cook's relentless, aggressive defense appeared to ignite the Ephs, who scored five of the game's next seven goals. Of the five, Malicki figured in three. Both Williams' Margaret Draper and Trinity's Zoe Ferguson were brilliant in the first 30 minutes of play, combining for nine saves. Draper's stop with 1:32 remaining in the first period was the most acrobatic, as she slid across the crease and used her foot to stymie the chance.
At the end of the first frame, Williams led Trinity in shots (14-11), draw controls (7-6), ground balls (7-3), and saves (5-4). Though not evidenced in the box score per se, Williams held a defensive physical advantage over the Bantams, collecting two yellow cards.
After two outstanding stops by Draper, Malicki extended the Ephs lead to three at 26:38, converting on a free-position attempt. After receiving a pass from senior Maeve Mulholland at X, Nancy Palmer blistered a shot into the back of net to give the Ephs a 9-5 advantage. Palmer converted again at 21:49, this time via Anne Rehfuss, extending the Ephs' lead to 10-6.
Despite the efforts of Margaret Draper and the Ephs' defense, the Bantams showed why they are the nation's top-ranked team and produced the game's next five goals. Up by one with 15 minutes remaining, Trinity's Ferguson was called upon to make several quality saves, and she answered. Williams' Mahaney Sippel, Molly Belk, and Emily Gerber provided unyielding defense, keeping the Ephs within one as time wound down on their season. The defensive combo limited Tewaarton Finalist Martha Griffin to one goal, which she converted with 21 minutes to play in regulation. After exchanging possessions threefold, Malicki fired a sharp-angled shot with one minute remaining in the contest, but the attempt was gonged away by Ferguson.
Bridget Malicki (2,3) and Nancy Palmer (4,0), both seniors, led the way for Williams in the quarterfinal playoff matchup. Trinity's Clare Lyne vaulted the Bantams to victory, scoring four goals and one assist. In net, Margaret Draper managed eight saves and Zoe Ferguson fashioned seven.
Seniors Bridget Malicki, Rebecca Bell, Alyssa Amos, Emily Gerber, Hillary Cook, Mahaney Sippel, Nancy Palmer, and Maeve Mulholland boast a 35-29 record with one NCAA appearance in 2014. The Ephs top five scorers were all seniors, with Bridget Malicki leading the pack with 54 points.
