Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - Despite Bridget Malicki's three-point effort, No. 9 Hamilton (9-2, 5-2 NESCAC) bested No. 16 Williams (5-5, 2-5 NESCAC) Wednesday night, 10-9. Though the Ephs led 8-5 with 13 minutes to play, Hamilton fought back with 5 consecutive goals to claim victory. Margaret Gabriel's unassisted tally with just over 2 minutes to play proved to be the game-winning mark.
Following two spectacular saves by Hamilton's goaltender, Hannah Rubin, Ashleigh Stephan opened the game's scoring; she capitalized on a fast-break via Taylor Ryan's pass at 26:49. The Ephs were quick to respond, however, as Hillary Cook ('15) collected a groundball in front of the Continental crease and fired into an empty net just 1 minute later. A combination of quality goaltending and uncharacteristic haphhazard play by the Ephs and Continentals kept the game 1-1 for the subsequent 8 minutes of action.
Maeve Mulholland ('15) broke the game's scoreless streak at 18:39 on a free-position shot, hurling the ball into the bottom of the net from just inside the 8 meter arc. Hamilton's Margaret Gabriel threatened to score after controlling the ensuing draw, but Margaret Draper ('17) denied the chance. Again, the game endured an 8 minute scoreless streak, largely because of Molly Belk's ('16) defensive play. Belk collected 4 groundballs in the game, three of which came during this scoring drought.
After Ephs' Nancy Palmer ('15) was dealt a yellow card, Morgan Fletcher found an open Margaret Gabriel in the slot, who beat Draper at 9:30 on the man-up opportunity, bringing the score to 2-2. Seconds later, Hamilton's Morgan Fletcher found the back of the net on a free-position chance. The Ephs responded to Fletcher's goal with force, scoring 3 goals in a 3 minute span, generating a 5-3 advantage. Malicki, Palmer, and Alyssa Amos ('15) collected the goals. The Ephs managed several quality chances towards the end of the half, but were unable to solve Rubin.
Williams' commanding first half performance is evidenced in their statistics; they controlled 6 of 9 draws and outshot Hamilton 16-6.
Malicki was quick to open the second half's scoring, sliding past two Continentals and dishing it on the short-side of Rubin at 27:14. Following 2 goals by Hamilton's Morgan Fletcher, Hillary Cook netted a free-position shot, her team-leading 25th of the season, at 19:56. After circling around the Continental's crease and dancing past two defenders, Palmer gave the Ephs an 8-5 lead with 13:50 to play.
Following Palmer's heroics, Hamilton exploded for 5 uninterrupted goals. The Continental's goals came by way of Madison Beres, Morgan Fletcher, Ashleigh Stephan, Darby Phillbrick, and Margaret Gabriel. During Hamilton's offensive streak, they fashioned 4 consecutive draw controls.
After Chris Mason's timeout with 2:11 on the clock, Anne Rehfuss fed an open Natalie Gill in the slot, who eluded Rubin with a bounce shot, bringing the Ephs within 1. Though Malicki gathered a groundball with 48 seconds to play, the Ephs were unable to tie the game.
Williams was led in scoring by Bridget Malicki's three-point effort (2, 1). Malicki leads the Ephs with 39 total points, good for 5th in the NESCAC. Hamilton was driven by Morgan Fletcher's 3 goals and 1 assist. While Hamilton's Hannah Rubin stopped 11 of 20 Eph shots, Williams' Margaret Draper blocked 3 of 13.
Williams plays host to Wesleyan University on Saturday, April 11 at 12PM. Hamilton squares off with Tufts University on Steuben Field on Saturday at 12PM.
