Amherst, MA – the Amherst College Mammoths (5-1-1, 4-0) would find a go-ahead goal with just two minutes left in the contest to down the Ephs (3-4, 2-3) by a score of 4 to 3.
The Ephs looked to continue rolling after their sweep last weekend as they entered their final two games before winter break. After a slightly slow start for Williams, the young line of Nick Rashkovsky,
Owen Stadheim, and
Ziv Deener-Chodirker began to apply the pressure to the Amherst defense. Deener-Chodirker would find Rashkovsky, followed by a quick pass to Stadheim who fired the puck home from the bottom of the circle.
The Ephs would not stop there as just six minutes later they would pot home another; Deener-Chodirker once again drew an assist as
Jonah Gold (4 goals in his last 4 games) roofed the puck from in tight to extend the lead. The Mammoths were quick to respond as with 2:15 left in the period, Joey Verkerke would halve the Ephs' lead.
Amherst would then find an equalizer four minutes into the second period with Josh Burke drawing the goal. The back-and-forth game continued as both teams fought hard, but halfway through the frame, the Ephs would inch ahead again.
Jonah Gold would win the offensive faceoff back to
Connor Kucharski, who rimmed the puck to
Henry Muller. Muller would power his way above the goaline, then fire the puck in front where
Jacob Eckerle tipped it beyond the Mammoth's netminder.
The Ephs would hold their lead into the third period, but Amherst would not go easily. Matt Toporowski would find the top corner early into the third, then, with just two minutes remaining in the game, Connor Guest would seal the game with a late winner. Despite a brief 6 on 5 when the Ephs opted to pull
Evan Ruschil, they could not find the heroic equalizer.
After the game, coach
Zack Goodman said, "We battled hard throughout the game. A couple of bounces went their way and that's how it goes sometimes. We faced some adversity, but we had a good effort tonight."
The Ephs will look to get back in the win column tomorrow at Hamilton College.
