Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — After beating Colby College (0-11-3, NESCAC 0-7-1) 4-1 yesterday, the Ephs (8-5-0, NESCAC 6-2-0) were back in action for Senior Day this afternoon. Facing off against the Mules once more, Williams beat them 5-1. Sophomore Anna Fucillo (Winthrop, MA) scored the game-winning goal at 14:27 in the first period, assisted by senior Sara Lehman (Lexington, MA) and sophomore Abby Brustad (Mound, MN). Williams will face off against out-of-conference opponent Elmira this Tuesday at Lansing Chapman Rink.
"All the seniors played great this afternoon," commented Williams head coach Meghan Gillis, "they got the team focused, and did a great job on the penalty kill, and created several offensive opportunities."
Colby took the lead in the first period, beating junior goaltender Christina Cleroux (New Glascow, NS) after a scramble in front of the Williams net. Sophomore Mikayla McLaughlin (Glenburn, ME) scored the goal at 11:57 to make it 1-0 for the Mules.
The Ephs responded quickly, tying up the game 1-1 with a shorthanded goal by sophomore Eliza Quigley (Marblehead, MA) at 13:26. Quigley forced a turnover in the Williams end, and carried the puck up the ice to fire a shot at Halley Fine'20 (Minneapolis, MN). Quigley's shot just missed the net, so junior Alex Lovaas (Wayzata, MN) fought off Colby defensemen to win the puck. She passed it back to Quigley, who cut the seam and scored a top shelf goal.
Fired up after Quigley's goal, Fucillo scored a minute later to make it 2-1 for Williams. Brustad laid it over to Lehman, who took a shot from the middle of the circle. Lehman's shot hit the post, and rebounded into the slot, where Fucillo was waiting to fire it home.
Williams continued to control play for the rest of the first period, outshooting Colby 15 to 10.
The second period was riddled with penalties from both teams, as Williams and Colby earned four penalty kills. Lovaas made several key blocks on the Williams penalty kill.
At 18:06, Williams solidified their lead with a goal by sophomore Annie Rush (Anchorage, AK). Rush won the puck in the Colby zone, and backhanded it into the net on Fine's blocker side to make it 3-1 for the Ephs.
Williams continued to control play in the third period, outshooting the Mules 15 to 9.
At 14:52 in the final frame, Rush scored her second goal of the game, giving the Ephs a three goal lead against the Mules. Senior Chelsey Stevenson (Tilbury, ONT) fired a shot from the middle of the circle, the Fine deflected in front of the goal. Senior Emily Krueger (Manasquan, NJ) won the puck and passed it to Rush, who scored to make it 4-1 Williams.
Under 4 minutes later, Lehman scored to give the Ephs a four goal lead. Brustad forced a turnover in the Williams zone. She then carried the puck up the ice on a two-on-one with Lehman. She waited until she was past the Colby crease to pass the puck back to Lehman, who was waiting to fire it home.
"Annie Rush played a great game tonight, almost earning a hat-trick in the third period. Cleroux was also solid in net, making a few key saves to help us maintain our lead," commented Gillis, "We'll really be using our pregame practice to prepare for a tough out-of-conference game against Elmira coming up this Tuesday."
Cleroux made a total of 30 saves tonight, while Fine made 40.
The Ephs face off against Elmira on Tuesday, January 17th at Lansing Chapman Rink. The puck drops at 7pm.
