CLINTON, NEW YORK– The Ephs fell short in the regular season's penultimate game to Hamilton. Their offense and defense were cohesive but could not find the game-winner as Hamilton found the final goal of the contest to win 13-12.
The Ephs opened the contest with a free-position goal from Grace Collier; she took advantage of the penalty from Olivia Chiota and then slotted it into the top right corner. A few moments later, Eph's goalie Caitlyn Joyce showed her impressive reactions to save a low shot and keep the Ephs up one. The Ephs added one more with about ten minutes left in the first quarter as Isabel Arvelo wrapped around the entire Continentals' defense and scored.
Despite the hounding defense from the Ephs, the Continentals cut the Ephs lead after a rebound goal from Abby Smith. The Continentals tied the game with 5:08 left in the first quarter courtesy of a free position goal from Aine Cleary. The Ephs regained their lead after Grace Collier found Abby Godwin, who pierced through the defense to score. Alana King tied the game up with just under two minutes in the first quarter. The Ephs responded quickly and retook the lead at the end of the quarter after a high shot from Shea van Den Broek beat the outstretched stick of the Continentals goalie.
The Continentals struck first in the second quarter and tied the game 4-4 thanks to a bouncing shot from Olivia Seymour assisted by Clarissa Hurley. Caitlyn Joyce came up big again with a few stops to keep the game level. However, the Continentals took the lead after Aine Clearly found a cutting Chloe Chiota, who shot and scored. The back and forth contest continued after the Ephs tied the game after a low shot from Lily Warendorf found the back of the net.
The Ephs took the lead with 2:52 left in the half after Claudia Russell's blistering pace was too much for the Continentals to contain. Isabel Arvelo doubled the lead seconds before the buzzer from a free position which brought the Ephs into halftime with a 7-5 lead.
The Ephs had the first word in the second half after only a few minutes after the draw; Claudia Russell found Shea van Den Broek who unleashed a powerful low shot that beat the goalie. The Continentals got two points back courtesy of goals from Sarah Stonestreet and Eva Abel and cut the Ephs lead to one. Clarissa Hurley tied the game after a spin move created enough shooting space to unleash a high shot into the goal.
The Ephs ended the Continentals scoring run and took the lead courtesy of a Shea van Den Broek goal assisted by Lily Warendorf. The Continentals responded through an excellent goal thanks to Eva Abel, who used her speed to create the opportunity and tie the game with 6:28 left in the third quarter. The Ephs regained the lead after a bouncing free position shot from Christina Halloran found the back of the net. The Ephs went into the game's final quarter with a 10-9 lead.
The fourth quarter was opened up by a spectacular move and shot from Grace Collier as the Ephs took a two-goal lead. The Continentals responded a few minutes later through Eva Abel's third of the game, which brought the score to 11-10 in favor of the Ephs. A few seconds later, the Continentals tied the game thanks to Aine Cleary. This forced an Ephs timeout with 8:49 remaining in the contest.
Like they had been doing all game, the Ephs regained the lead with 6:23 left in the contest through a clinical finish from a free position by Isabel Arvelo. The Continentals tied the game only a few seconds later, thanks to Lauren Hamilton's low shot that found the net. Aine Clearly earned the Continentals' second lead of the entire game after she shifted right on a free position shot and ripped a low shot past Caitlyn Joyce. Clearly's goal was enough to edge off the Ephs in the end.
"The ball didn't bounce our way today. Proud of the effort and we're bringing lessons from today and into the next one" Coach Alice Lee said after the game.
The Ephs will close out the regular season in Williamstown vs Middlebury on Wednesday, April 27th at 6:30 PM
