AMHERST, MASS. -- After two scoreless periods, a Williams (7-4/3-4 NESCAC) goal early in the third gave the Ephs a 1-0 victory in their rematch against archrival Amherst (5-5/2-4 NESCAC).
Coming off last night's game the Ephs worked to "get back to the little details, winning net front battles and staying disciplined within our system," Eph head coach
Meghan Gillis noted.
Off the draw, Amherst took the puck down into their offensive end, but didn't create much offensive pressure before the Ephs'
Meghan Halloran took the puck down the right-wing and used nifty stick skills to try to eliminate her defender. Halloran got a close look at the net, but the three Amherst skaters in the zone blocked up the lane toward goalie Caitlin Walker.
The Ephs focused on creating offensive opportunities and getting pucks to the front of the net. Williams defenders frequently shot from the blue line and hoped their teammates would be waiting at the net to tip it in or collect a rebound. However, Walker was composed.
Kelly McCarthy skated coast-to-coast and ripped a dangerous shot off on Walker, but an Amherst player got a stick on it before it reached Walker.
Williams found their first power play of the night when Amherst received a tripping call 10:52 into the first period. The Ephs put the pressure on when they were a man up.
Maddie Tix made a nifty backhanded move around her defender and got the puck to the front of the net, but Walker stood strong even with a man down.
Throughout first period, Williams got pucks on net.
Christina Halloran stole the puck at neutral ice and chipped it to her sister, Meghan, who took a backhanded shot at the net. Meghan found her own rebound and tried to stuff it by Walker with a wraparound shot, but Walker covered the puck before the Ephs could cause more chaos in front of the net.
With three minutes left in the first period Williams' Brynne Puppe was called for hooking and gave the Mammoths a power play. Amherst set up in their offensive zone and took shots from the point, but the Ephs' penalty kill worked hard and won the battles in front of the net.
Starting off the second period
Meghan Halloran and
Robin Kitazono created a scoring opportunity. Halloran took the puck down the left wing and made a cross crease pass where Kitazono looked for the tip in, but Walker turned it away.
Williams continued to put the pressure on Amherst. Brynne Puppe found space from her defender and skated with a purpose toward the net and she ripped a shot toward the left corner, but Walker smothered the puck.
Ellia Chiang confidently skated through three Amherst players and took a shot on Walker. She collected her rebound and fired another off, but was denied both times.
An Amherst hooking call put Williams a man up at 7:53 in the second period. Amherst found a shorthanded opportunity, but
Paige Galle made a last-ditch effort and got her stick on the shot to help out Eph goalie
Chloe Heiting. Amherst had another shorthanded effort, where Williams took a cross-checking call making it a 4-on-4.
Heiting kept composure with only a few minutes left in the second period. Amherst set up in the Williams zone and fired shots from the point, crowded the front of the net and looked to obstruct Heiting's vision, but Heiting covered the puck to calm the commotion.
The Ephs kept up the offensive pressure and looked for an opening on Walker in the third period.
Maddie Tix raced down the right side and made a centering pass to Bri Hill who ripped a shot under the crossbar for the first goal of the night at 4:05.
"Maddie made a really good play to get Bri that puck and Bri just handled it with a quick shot under the bar." explained Gillis. "It was huge for us. We had been scoreless for eight periods."
The Mammoths battled to tie things up. At 8:02 Amherst received a power play chance after getting the puck to the front of the net drawing a Williams tripping penalty. Even while a man-down, the Ephs were able to keep the Mammoths far from the goal.
Meghan Halloran made a key interception and took a shorthanded attempt on Walker.
"The PK stepped up huge on that kill. Amherst really had us on the ropes last night on the power play…for us to bounce back and go 100% was great" said Gillis.
With two minutes to go in the game, Amherst patiently waited for a scoring opportunity. Williams didn't mind and worked to kill the clock. The Ephs were able to keep Amherst tied up in their defensive end
Overall, Williams took 33 shots on net while Amherst totaled 25. The Ephs'
Chloe Heiting recorded another shutout saving all 25 shots and Caitlin Walker turned away 32 Eph shots.
The Ephs will travel to Brunswick, Maine for their next game where they will take on Bowdoin January 21st at 7pm.
