Brunswick, ME -- In the second matchup of the weekend against Bowdoin (1-1/1-1 NESCAC), a goal late in the first period from Lucie Bond,
Maddie Tix's crafty goal in the third, and
Ellia Chiang's empty netter gave Williams (1-1/1-1 NESCAC) the edge over Bowdoin for their first win of the season.
Off the puck drop, Williams put the pressure on Bowdoin goaltender Dani Marquez with
Christina Halloran and Claire Murphy ripping shots from out wide, but Marquez held tough and swatted away the Eph shots for a couple early saves.
The Ephs generated many offensive opportunities throughout the first period getting shots off from up high and looking for rebounds.
Delaney Szlezyngier created chances racing down the right wing and taking a shot across the crease to create a close opportunity in front of the net, but the Polar Bears defense jumped on the loose puck before the Eph could find the rebound. Mid-way through the period,
Ellia Chiang pick-pocketed Bowdoin's Peyton Mulhern at the blue line and tried to finish off the job with a wrister just outside the left crease.
The Ephs kept composure in the defensive end. In net, Sofia Da Silvia held a strong command of the crease. With minutes left in the first period, the Polar Bears tried to get a cycle of shots going looking for a tip in. Elena DiMagno sailed one from the top of the circle, but Da SIlva held tough covering the puck quickly.
With 1:09 to go on the clock, the Ephs put their first goal on the board to go up 1-0. Jaelyn Keiver won the faceoff sending the puck out to Szlezyngier. Szlezyngier fed Lucie Bond on the far post who backhanded it home for her first career goal.
Head coach
Meghan Gillis was her young talent. "Both nights we had goals from first years, it was huge to see them step up opening weekend and make a difference."
Szlezyngier caught a tripping call giving the Polar Bears the advantage 4:25 into the second period. Bowdoin worked the puck around the horn with patience. The Polar Bears sent the puck to Gia Massari at the blue line and shot top corner far side for the power play goal tying up the game 1-1 at 5:33.
The Ephs took no time to shift back into an offensive mindset. Claire Murphy worked her shifty stick skills and tried to backhand a shot past Marquez. Later,
Maddie Tix also created opportunities taking a wraparound shot on goal which almost slipped by Marquez. Late in the second period, Leah Rubinshteyn and Chiang charged down the ice to pressure the Polar Bears' defense. Rubinshteyn struck first and Chiang found her rebound, putting Marquez down on the ice. But, the Ephs couldn't find the space to lift it over Marquez and into the net.
Gillis said, "Bowdoin pushed back really hard. As a young team, we learned a lot in those moments and it was great to see Ellia step up and make smart plays."
The Ephs defense came out strong in the third period jamming up Polar Bear passes and blocking scoring lanes. Even when DiMango sped down the left wing, three Eph players blocked her up forcing a tricky pass.
Williams almost had another when Chloe Noxon,
Robin Kitazono, and Murphy loaded shot after shot. The Polar Bears couldn't get it out of the zone forcing Marquez to make a diving save and covering the puck up.
At 13:01 in the third period,
Maddie Tix worked the puck end to end taking on Marquez one-on-one for the 2-1 lead. Tix maneuvered around her defenders and got up close to the net to sneak the puck underneath Marquez for her first goal of the season.
"Senior leadership stepped up at that moment. [Maddie] had chances both days and just seeing her capitalize on what she had been creating was positive for the team and set us in the direction to split the weekend" mentioned Gillis.
With 2 minutes left in the game, the Polar Bears pulled Marquez for an extra skater. After a deflection in the defensive end, the Ephs worked the puck down to the blue line, where
Ellia Chiang picked up another point with an empty netter to take it home for the 3-1 Ephs win.
Williams outshot Bowdoin, tallying 34 shots on goal compared to Bowdoin's 26. In net, goalie Sofia Da Silvia turned away 25 shots and netminder Dani Marquez stopped 31 shots.
Williams will play the Endicott Gulls Tuesday, November 22 at 7pm for their first home game in Lansing Chapman Rink.
