Box Score Shenectady, NY – Williams (1-1/ NESCAC 1-0) lost a close game that was down to the wire 12-11 at Union College (2-1).
In the early stages of the first quarter, offense was the name of the game. In the first three possessions of the game, there were three shots and three goals. Williams went off to a quick two-goal lead, winning the first two face-offs and scoring twice before Union got possession of the ball with goals from Michael Fahey and Tom Fowler.
Union won the following face-off to finally gain possession and Tom Stanton netted their first goal of the game. Then both teams' offenses cooled off and struggled to find the net for the rest of the quarter. Williams had a chance when Jack O'Connor committed a cross check for Union to give Williams a 1-minute man-up opportunity, however, Union was able to force a turnover and run out the penalty leading to the score remaining 2-1 Williams at the end of the first quarter.
Williams started out hot in the second quarter too, scoring two goals in the first three minutes, with one from Thomas Fowler and one from Jack Lee to extend the lead to three goals. Union then heated up and went on a four-goal run to finish out the half ahead 5-4.
Early in the third quarter Williams pushed hard to tie the game up with dangerous shots from Peter Crane and Greg Plumb but Sam Debout, Union's goalie, saved both. It was Union who scored the next goal of the game in transition. Williams was quick to answer back, Greg Plumb fired another shot in transition, but this time he beat the goalie and scored. Williams had a chance to tie the game up when Union committed a holding penalty to give the Ephs another man up opportunity once again Union was able to run out the penalty.
With five minutes left in the quarter, Williams got another man up opportunity, this time they were actually two men up, and Peter Crane was able to score for Williams to even up the score at 6-6. That goal was the start of a four-goal run for the Ephs as Peter Crane, Conor Roddy, and Jack Lee scored the next three to take a 9-6 lead. Union was able to stop the run just before the quarter ended when Nolan Stauffer fired one in with three seconds left to reduce the Williams lead to two goals going into the fourth quarter.
Union won the opening face-off of the quarter but turned the ball over leading to a three-minute possession for Williams that ended with a goal by Conor Roddy. Williams won the following face-off and Michael Fahey scored another for the Williams to start some momentum for the Ephs. However, Union was quick to kill that momentum, winning the following faceoff and scoring on the play. The teams remained in a stalemate for the next three minutes but then from 6:26 to 6:16 Union scored three quick goals to tie the game up at 11-11. Two minutes later Jack Scheufele scored another for Union to take the lead with 4:39 remaining. Williams was unable to find the net again for the remainder and lost 12-11.
The Ephs were led by a balanced attack with two goals each from Michael Fahey, Conor Roddy, Greg Plumb, Peter Crane, and Jack Lee.
Union was led by Nolan Stauffer who had four goals.
Williams' goalie Miles McCarthy played 60:00, allowing twelve goals while saving eleven shots.
Union's goalie Sam Debout played 60:00 allowing eleven goals while saving thirteen shots.
Williams' coach George McCormack said, "Union did a great job late in the game of winning face offs, and they did a great job pushing the ball in transition to score goals."
The next game for the Ephs is Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 P.M., when they will travel to face off against Bowdoin.
