Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — The Williams College women's hockey team (5-3-0) downed out-of-conference opponent Manhanttanville College (6-4-0) 4-2 tonight. Senior Chelsey Stevenson (Tilbury, ONT) scored the game winning goal at 16:07 in the third period.
Eph head coach Meghan Gillis commented, "It was great to end the 2016 portion of our season with a four-game winning streak."
The Ephs started the first period putting offensive pressure on Manhattanville. Senior assistant captain Emily Krueger (Manasquan, NJ) tested goalie Olivia Drew '17 (York, ME) with a shot from the top of the circle within the first two minutes of play
Williams went on two consecutive power plays, at 2:24 and 5:04, but were unable to convert a goal with the one-man advantage.
The Ephs took the lead at 9:49. Claire Mancheski (Minnetonka, MN) scored her first collegiate goal, assisted by sophomore Eliza Quigley (Marblehead, MA) and Stevenson. Quigley (Marblehead, MA) laid it over to Stevenson, who passed the puck to Mancheski. She scored off a shot from the point to make it 1-0 for Williams.
The Ephs continued to pressure the Valiants after the goal. With 4 minutes left in the first frame, Stokes took a wrist shot off a partial breakaway that Drew stopped with a nice glove save.
Playing 4 on 4 hockey, Manhattanville tied the game up at 18:10, with a goal by sophomore Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, NY). Junior Sarah Sinning (Southold, NY) sent a centering pass over to Mensi who took a shot from the slot to score.
The Ephs took the lead again in the second period at 5:03 off a power play goal. Sophomore Abby Brustad,(Mound, MN) laid it over to Krueger, who passed it to sophomore Eliza Quigley (Marblehead, MA). Quigley scored with a quick release from the slot to make it 2-1 Williams, along with Mancheski scoring her first college goal.
Williams had consecutive power plays after the goal, but were unable to convert a goal.
Manhattanville went on the power play at 15:58 and then again at 17:28. The Ephs managed to kill off the first power play, with freshman goalie Marissa Anderson (East Falmouth, MA) making two screened saves. However at 17:37 the Valiants tied up the score 2-2. Senior Taryn Harris (Morrison, CL) passed the puck to freshman Ashley Lougheed (Vancouver, BC) who scored off a shot from the point.
Tied 2-2 going into the final frame, the Valiants had several scoring opportunities on the power play at 3:47, 6:17, 9:02. However Anderson stayed big in net leading the Ephs to three penalty kills.
Williams took the lead again 3-2 with a goal by Stevenson. Senior captain Hanna Beattie (Whitehouse Station, NJ) won the puck, and passed it to junior Emily Eide (Edina, MN). Eide rifled a shot from the point. There was a scramble in front of the net, and Stevenson tipped the puck in for the goal.
With 2 minutes left the Valiants pulled their goalie to gain a one-man advantage over the Ephs. Freshman Mia Carroll (New Canaan, CT) scored an empty netter to solidify the Ephs' lead, 4-2. Along with Mancheski, and Quigley, Carroll scored her first collegiate goal tonight.
"Mia made a smart defensive play to get the empty net goal," reflected Gillis, "we stayed focused and tenacious in the third after killing off those penalties, and we were able to get the game winning goal as a result. When we come back in 2017 we have a week to prepare before playing Bowdoin. They have a great record, and we always have tough games against them."
The Ephs will be back in action playing against Bowdoin on January 6th, 2017 at Sidney J. Watson Arena in Brunswick, Maine. The puck drops at 7pm.
