Box Score Williamstown, MA – Two early first period goals by Colby (2-0/2-0) NESCAC set the tone for the gams as Williams (0-2/0-2 NESCAC) was held scoreless until the third period, falling 5-2 to the Mules.
During the first period, Williams power play defense was put to the test. With two Colby power plays from Eph tripping penalties, the Mules pressured the Williams defense with several close shots. However, Eph goalie
Chloe Heiting made key stops and defenders
Maddie Zack and Delaney Szelzyngier blocked early Colby shots.
The period was scoreless until near the end. With 27 seconds left in the first period, a scrum in front of the goal left the puck loose, allowing Jillian Mazzocca to pass to Paige Larose who put the Mules on the scoreboard. Colby didn't let up after the first goal with Lexi Cafiero scoring just 13 seconds later giving the Mules a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
During the second period, the Mules continued to pressure Williams. After a save from Heiting ricocheted off her pads, Colby's Elizabeth Brashich found the back of the net lifting the Mules' lead to 3-0.
Colby again went numbers up midway through the period. At the end of their power play, a rebound created a chaos in front of the net. Heiting fell to the ice reaching for the puck but Sadie Kuhn got to it first and scored the fourth Colby goal.
Williams had some chances with three power play attempts in the second period. Despite
Meghan Halloran and
Brynn Puppe dekeing around Colby defenders to get close shots off, the Ephs couldn't capitalize on their rebounds.
During the third period, Williams finally found some scoring opportunities. Building off last night, head coach
Meghan Gillis said her team focused on "not being on top of the net, giving us a little more space to create some depth in front of the net, and trying to get some lateral play movement to get [Prunster] to move from post to post."
After Szlezygier stopped a Colby breakaway in front of the net, McCarthy took the puck into the offensive zone and passed to
Robin Kitazono for the Ephs first goal of the season, making it 4-1.
The Mules responded quickly widening their lead to 5-1 with a quick goal by Paige Larose.
With two Colby penalties and Heiting pulled to create more offensive pressure, Williams
Ellia Chiang received a pass from
Christina Halloran to sneak it by Prunster, adding a second goal for the Ephs on the power play.
Gillis noted that the Ephs learned from the first two periods and began to connect better, saying, "They had more time together, so it started to gel a little better."
In total, Williams and Colby's stats mirrored each other. The Ephs recorded 30 shots on goal, while the Mules had 31. Williams goalie
Chloe Heiting saved 26 of the Mules' shots. Colby's goalie Nina Prunster stopped 27 shots from the Ephs.
With impressive goaltending on both sides, capitalizing on rebounds was key for winning. "That's what Colby did a really great job of all weekend. They were just winning those net front battles at both ends of the ice" Gillis noted.
Williams will face Plymouth State University at home in Lansing Chapman Rink on Tuesday, November 23
rd at 7p
