Brunswick, ME – A power play goal in the second period and an empty net goal in the last couple minutes of the game gave Bowdoin (9-5/5-4 NESCAC) the 2-0 win over the Ephs (8-5/4-5 NESCAC).
Head Coach
Meghan Gillis acknowledged "Overall, it is hard to play a game where you can't get a good feel and there is a lot of inconsistency…."We just tried to create chances and move the goalie laterally."
The Polar Bears found the first power play of the night when
Paige Galle went to the box for tripping. The Ephs were aggressive on the power play pressuring the puck behind the net and keeping Bowdoin to low angle shots.
Bowdoin went back on the power play five minutes later after a roughing call on Bri Hill. Again, the Ephs penalty kill impeded the Polar Bears' attempts on goalie
Chloe Heiting.
Maddie Zack cleared the puck out eating up the time on the penalty.
Williams got their first power play opportunity after Julia Surgenor took a penalty for tripping. Off the faceoff,
Meghan Halloran fired a shot off from the point and Brynne Puppe took a slapshot, but Marquez denied any pucks coming close to the crease.
Kicking off the second period, the Ephs and the Polar Bears skated back and forth both with attempts on net.
CC Wallin chased down the puck at neutral ice and made a move around her defender on the left side and looked for a shorthanded attempt, but Marquez denied her attempt.
Surgeonor picked up a penalty for checking giving the Ephs another power play opportunity. After some action by Williams offense, Bowdoin took a shorthanded attempt on Heiting. Brynne Puppe then picked up a penalty for interference making it a 4-4.
Then a tripping penalty on
Georgia Keogh gave Bowdoin another man advantage opportunity. The Polar Bears found the back of the net when Izzie Stoddard received a pass from Jackie Miller. She let the puck fly with a one timer from the top left of the circle, giving them the 1-0 advantage at 10:40.
After that goal the Eph tried to get back to the basics, "Focus on us, getting back to playing our game and doing the simple things right," said Gillis.
Back at even strength, Bowdoin was quick to keep up the pressure in their offensive end.
Meghan Halloran stole away the puck at the Polar Bear's blue line and tried to split her defenders, but was tied up before she could make it to the net. She found another chance on the left wing and rocketed a shot cross crease, but Marquez was able to stop it.
To finish out the period,
Kelly McCarthy took a tripping call putting Bowdoin back on the power play. The Polar Bears organized up top, but Williams managed to block up shots and clear the puck out of the zone.
Starting out the third period, the Ephs came out rearing and hungry for a goal, even with numbers down for the first few seconds of the final period. The Ephs found a two-on-one opportunity, but a Bowdoin player went down to the ice to block the shot.
A Bowdoin penalty for checking on Zoe Wilson gave Williams another power play chance. Despite shots from Halloran, Dunn, and Hill they couldn't find an opening.
With 6:44 left in the period, Williams went 5-on-3 from a checking call on Jane McCarter. With some time left in the first penally was about to expire, Bowdoin's Gia Massarie was sent off for a face-off violation.
Ellia Chiang picked up speed to move Marquez, but couldn't get the puck by her.
The Polar Bears managed to kill off the clock and bring it back to a 5-on-5. The Ephs pulled Heiting, giving Williams six skaters. The Ephs got tied up at the blue line and Bowdoin's Surgenor swiped at the puck for an empty net goal at 1:20 to give the Polar Bears the 2-0 lead.
Overall, Williams outshot Bowdoin 39 to 23. Goalie
Chloe Heiting saved 21 and Dani Marquez stopped all 39 of the Ephs shots.
Gillis says, "Tomorrow is a new day. We need the win to keep where we want to be and be competitive in the playoffs."
Williams will rematch with the Polar Bears tomorrow afternoon in Bowdoin's Sidney J. Watson Arena at 3pm.
