WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
The Williams College Ephs (0-1-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) fell to the Bowdoin Polar Bears (1-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) in their season opener. Before the game, to celebrate Senior Night, the Ephs honored Seniors Mac Carso, Jacob Eckerle, Connor Kucharski, Evan Ruschil, and Alex Cardonick.
Things started quickly, as five minutes into the first period Trevor O'Brien, assisted by Connor Tobin and fellow First-Year Ziv Deener-Chodirker, was able to force the puck through the fray for the first goal of his young career, and the Ephs' first of the season.
Sean Clarke could've grabbed a second at the 15 minute mark, when Connor Kucharski thread a pass through Bowdoin's lines that left him with only empty ice between him and the goalie. Some good latch ditch defending by the Polar Bears, however, saw the puck skitter harmlessly past the goaline.
Bowdoin equalized a minute into the second period. Nate Clark, released by Albert Washco, was able to sneak it past Evan Ruschil for a 1-1 tie.
Just over four minutes later, Mac Carso restored the lead. He beat the goalie and the lone defenseman in one fell swoop, dangling the puck rightwards before shifting back left, and slotting home into the now-empty net. Credit Sean Clarke on a quality assist.
Nicholas Rashkovsky almost embarrassed the goalie a second time 17 minutes into the second period, but the puck drifted narrowly wide.
The Polar Bears finished the period strong, though, after a long spell of Eph domination. James Cerepak equalized, and his effort was almost immediately followed by another goal from Chris Brown, at 19:19, and the Ephs ended the period down 2-3.
Bowdoin doubled their lead at 13:17, with Al Washco producing and converting an unassisted effort for the Polar Bears' fourth.
The Ephs responded with five minutes left in the final period, Jamie Cates capitalizing on the power play, leaving the goalie with no chance.
In the final minute, in a last ditch effort to equalize, the Ephs pulled their goalie, and had six players on an all-out attack. The Polar Bears exploited the empty net, though, and Jack Studley scored from the middle of the ice to make it 5-3 with eight seconds remaining.
Polar Bears' goalkeeper Alex Kozic ended with three goals allowed and 29 saves, while the Ephs' Ruschil allowed four goals and was credited with 33 saves.
Said Eph head coach Bill Kangas after the game: " I thought we did a lot of really good things. We had some great offensive opportunities and it was nice to get a power play goal. There was that stretch late in the second where they got those two late goals. We just did not support the puck quick enough, and if we don't do that good teams can capitalize. So I give them credit, those are two talented goals for them and we couldn't get the catch up goal. Overall I thought that was a really competitive first game and this is the way the league is, you gotta be ready to play every shift, every moment. We gave up a couple moments in the second but overall I was very happy with the way we competed."Â
The Ephs fall to 0-1, and will look to get in the win column tomorrow, at home, against Colby College.
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