Williamstown, MA- The Williams Ephs (5-3-0, NESCAC 5-1-0) downed the Amherst Mammoths (2-5-0, NESCAC 1-3-0), 3-2 in a thrilling overtime win. The game winning goal was made by senior forward Jack Forrest, assisted by Jarin Sutton, after he fired it past the left shoulder ofAmherst College's goaltender Connor Leslie.
 
Emotions were running high today during the prime-time game against the two rivals. Amherst came off the bench strong and well rested as yesterday's matchup with Middlebury College was postponed, and home team, Williams was hungry for a win after Friday's loss to Hamilton. In their last meeting, the Ephs were victorious winning 5-2. One of the prime scorers of that match, Mac Carso, who returned to action today for the Ephs.
 
The Ephs were offensively dominant in the first period, taking 12 shots against Amherst freshman netminder, Connor Leslie, while the Mammoths managed 6 on Eph standout goalie Evan Ruschil. Both teams came into the game with equal aggression, but the Ephs were the first to draw blood at 5:19. Sophomore Jamie Cates was able to keep his stick on the ice from the top crease and capitalize off a secondhand chance through the five hole. This was Cates first goal of the season. The Ephs consistently put pressure on the Mammoths until the end of the first period
 
29 seconds into the first period, the Mammoths were given a one-man advantage when Ben Lawrick was sent to the penalty box for boarding. However, the Mammoths were unable to convert and the Ephs successfully killed off the first penalty of the game. The Ephs were given their turn of a power play at 7:10 when Amherst's Michael Pitts was penalized. However, like the Ephs, the Mammoths were able to buckle down their defense and clear out the penalty.
 


The Ephs extended their lead to two when Williams junior Mac Carso, assisted by senior captain Niko Karamanis, fired a shot through the top shelf 15 minutes flat into the second period. Carso has been the leading scorer in the last two matchups against the Mammoths, tallying 2 goals in 2019 and one in 2020. This is his first goal of the season.
 
30 seconds later, the Ephs received a chance to extend their lead to 3-0 when a penalty was called on the Mammoths. However, the Mammoths were quick to shut it down and showed impressive defensive play. With 1:06 left in the period, the Mammoths were desperate to make up the difference. They buckled down, really pressing on the Ephs defense. At 1:06, the Mammoths crowded over the front of the net and Nick Bondra was the one to cram the deflected shot into the side of the net. At the end of the second period, the Ephs out shot the Mammoths by 2, with the Ephs leading the game 2-1.
 
Going into the third period with a one-goal advantage, the Ephs looked to extend their lead and solidify the win. Both teams came fresh from the locker room making aggressive offense plays from both sides. A penalty at 4:44 on Amherst's Quinton Fox opened an opportunity for the Ephs to capitalize on. However, the Mammoth's penalty clearing team maintained their composure buying time until the end of Eph power play. Leading off that momentum, Sean Wrenn, assisted by Ben Kuzma and Joey Verkerke, picked up a deflected shot and slapped it through Ruschil's top right-hand corner. Wrenn's goal at 10:43 leveled the playing field to 2-2 with 9 minutes left in the game. The Mammoths out shot the Ephs 14 to 6 in the third period.
 
With a score of 2-2 after 60 minutes of play, the Ephs and the Mammoths went head-to-head in the 3 v 3 sudden death overtime format. The puck went back and forth between the neutral zone, but the game winning goal was made at 3:53 by senior forward Jack Forrest, assisted by Jarin Sutton. In front of the goal, Sutton made a phenomenal pass to Forrest, who took the shot into a wide opening to the goal.

When asked to comment on today's game, Eph head coach Bill Kangas stated, "It was a good matchup against Amherst, we really went head-to-head and it was pretty even throughout. For us, I was really happy with how the team played and how consistent they were when we were ahead as well as when we lost the lead."
 
Coach Kangas further commented saying, "I am proud that we finished 2021 on a strong and positive note, especially coming off a crazy year of COVID. We are very fortunate to be able to play. With that said, each player came into the season dedicated to working hard and they have done exactly that."   

The Ephs will open the 2022 year with a matchup in Northfield, VT against the University of New England on January 1^st 4:00PM in the Northfield Savings Bank Tournament.