Middletown, CT -- Four power play chances in the first period gave Wesleyan (7-9-/ 3-8 NESCAC) two early goals followed by a third in the last second of the second period. Williams (10-7, 7-6 NESCAC) found the net twice with goals early in the second and early in the third periods but couldn't claw back into the lead.
The first power play of the night came early, just 2:30 into the opening period when
Paige Galle was called for tripping, giving Wesleyan a chance at the 5-on-4. The Ephs managed to clear the puck eating up time. The Cardinals stacked up in a box around the goal, but their power play was quickly caught short their Cali Stevens was sent to the box for tripping. The Ephs found their chance with a man up once their penalty timed out, but neither team could convert with these abbreviated power play chances.
Wesleyan got another opportunity at the power play with
Brynn Puppe going to the box for tripping. After getting pucks to the net, Brooke Keough left the puck for Bridget Cornell on the right wing. Cornell skated to the slot and made a driving shot, ripping it by
Chloe Heiting giving Wesleyan an early 1-0 lead at 6:14, moments before the Ephs got back to even strength.
For the third time in the period, Williams went a man-down when
Quinn Dawson was sent to the box. The Cardinals set up and fired pucks from the point. Heiting managed to shut down a series of attempts. However, Cornell's shot from the point deflected off Brigitte Goeler-Slough's stick, who was cherry-picking to the right of the crease and flew over Heiting's right shoulder at 14:15 to extend Wesleyan's lead to 2-0.
Two minutes into the second period, Effie Tournas' hooking infraction gave Williams the man advantage. Bri Hill, Chiang, and Dawson put pucks on net, but the Ephs couldn't convert on those chances with Cardinal sticks interrupting their attempts.
Back at even strength, Wesleyan continued to test Heiting. After picking up the puck in the Ephs' defensive zone
CC Wallin put herself in a position to score. Eph head coach
Meghan Gillis applauded Wallin's energy saying, "It was one of her best games ever. She was competing to get the puck back all the time and had a great sense of urgency out there." At 5:10, Wallin charged down the left wing and took a turn at the slot with room to rip it by Rei Halloran into the left corner cutting the deficit in half, 2-1.
With just four minutes left in the period, a penalty for too many players on the ice sent Wesleyan on the power play once again. The Ephs penalty kill faced lots of offensive pressure, but the penalty kill unit blocked up shooting lanes and played high pressure defense. Heiting also did her part sliding from post to post and deflecting Wesleyan shots.
With only 17 seconds left in the period, the Cardinals swarmed the net crowding Heiting's vision. Jenkins shot the puck from the point. Effie Tournas's crafty moves were hard to defend as she moved around the Williams players and wristed the puck to the back of the net at even-strength, giving Wesleyan a 3-1 advantage after two periods.
Two minutes into the third period, Williams capitalized on a power play opportunity.
Ellia Chiang skated up to the point for a cross crease shot that slipped through Halloran's pads four minutes into the period, narrowing the Cardinal's lead to 3-2.
Throughout the rest of the period, the Ephs fired off 29 shots, drove to the net, and forced sprawling saves from Halloran. Despite their hustle, nifty stick skills and pressure at the front of the net, the Ephs were unable to tie the game and force overtime. Gillis observed, "The third period was our best period of the day...We are looking to build of that urgency we had in the third to start off tomorrow."
Overall, Williams took 36 shots on net compared to Wesleyan's 31 shots. Netminder
Chloe Heiting turned away 28 shots, while Rei Halloran stopped 34.
The Ephs and the Cardinals will rematch tomorrow February 5th at Wesleyan's Spurrier-Snyder Rink at 3pm.
