Hamilton Continentals Topple Williams College Ephs 4-1

Williamstown, MA- The Williams Ephs (4-3-0, NESAC 4-1-0) were defeated by the Hamilton Continentals (4-2-0, NESAC 3-1-0) 4-1 this evening at the Lansing Chapman Rink. Hamilton's Matt Gellerman and Nick Hawkins both scored 2 goals in the first and second period to secure the Continentals a win.
 
In the net for the Ephs was first year Cal Sadquist. Sadquist came into this contest with a .917 save percentage and made 25 saves on the night. In the net for the Continentals was Sean Storr, who came into the game with a similar .921 save percentage and made 28 saves on the night.
 
When these two teams last faced each other, the Continentals got the best of the Ephs beating them 3-2 at home.
 
The period started off slow, with no goals or penalties until 13:40. With the first penalty in the Continentals favor, Hamilton's Matt Gellerman, assisted by James Philpott and Chad Varney, capitalized by slipping a deflected slap shot through the four-hole of Sandquist. Not long after, Eph defenseman Ben Lawrick was sent to the penalty box for interference. Not wanting to give the Continentals another goal, the Ephs buckled down their penalty killing team and ended the period down only 1 goal. After 20 minuets of play the Continentals out shot the Ephs 13 to 8.
 
Fresh out of the locker room, the Ephs came into the second period with more spark, accompanied with a small lineup change. However, the Continentals rode their first goal momentum, scoring their second goal of the game less than three minutes into the second period. Hamilton's Nick Hawkins, assisted by Sean Thomson and William Neault, slapped the puck from the front doorstep of the goal.


 
Following six minutes of even play, the Ephs were down one man for five minutes following a major penalty on Jamie Cates. The Eph's defense skated hard but were unable to successfully kill of the penalty. Nick Hawkins, assisted by James Philpott and Chad Varney, scored his second goal of the period putting the Continentals up by three. The Ephs finally got a power play opportunity at 15:06 after Hamilton's Cade Groton was sent to the box for tripping. However, the Continentals were quick to defend their lead and successfully killed off the penalty. Immediately after the end of Eph power play, Hamilton's Matt Gellerman scored his second goal of the game after breaking away and shooting straight past Sandquist's right shoulder. In the second period, the Ephs out shot the Continentals 23-16 but were unable to post a goal.
 
Starting the third period off with a power play bridging from the second, the Continentals had the upper hand with a one-man advantage. However, the Ephs showed solid penalty killing and the Continentals were unable to score. The Ephs got their second power play of the game, and finally capitalized at 3:46. Williams first year Owen Stadheim, assisted by Faisal Alsaif and Niko Karamanis picked up a cross ice pass and ripped it high over the shoulder of Storr. This was Stadheim's first goal of the season and his Williams career.
 
With less than four minutes left in the game, the Ephs received another power play opportunity when Hamilton Nick Rutigliano was penalized. The Ephs continued to put pressure on the Continentals but were unable to break through their solid defense.
 
"I thought Hamilton came out and played really well, I give them a lot of credit tonight," commented Eph head coach Bill Kangas. "We made some good plays, but we had too many turn overs and some of our passes weren't clean. It's early and we made some mistakes. We will take what we learned, grow from it, and improve on it going into our next game on Sunday".
 
The Ephs will go head-to-head with NESCAC rival Amherst College at home this Sunday 1:00 PM