Box Score Middletown, Conn. - After a scoreless first period, Wesleyan scored late into the second period. The match picked up pace in the third with Williams scoring a goal but Wesleyan coming back with 2 more giving Wesleyan (8-1-1, 2-1 NESCAC) the 4-1 win over Williams (6-5, 1-4 NESCAC) this evening.
Erin Pye with an early block into the first period. Pye reached up and deflected a close shot by Wesleyan from the top of the left circle into the top of the net and continued to block rebound attempts to poke it in the net. Allowing Williams to gain control of the puck, which gave Leah Rubinshteyn the first shot for the Ephs a close attempt but deflected off of Rei Halloran's leg pad.
After being put under pressure in their defensive end, the Ephs controlled the puck up the left hand side, clearing the puck over the blue line and sending the puck behind the net. Maddie Tix recovered the puck and attempted a shot from just outside the crease. Halloran covered it up.
Ellia Chang had another close attempt at the end of the first period inside the crease, unfortunately it was turned away by Halloran, the Ephs recovered the puck and created more scoring opportunities but the Cardinals defense blocked up the center. Both teams created optimal defense making it difficult for either side to find time in the opposing team's offensive zone.
The first penalty came against Williams Quinn Dawson for hooking, giving Wesleyan a power play. This did not stop Williams defense to get the puck out of harm's way, effectively killing off the penalty without any serious threats
The Ephs' Bella DeLuca was called for cross checking giving Wesleyan a player
advantage. Undeterred, the Ephs defense took an aggressive stance and was able to disrupt the puck, not allowing the Cardinals to create scoring opportunities Erin Pye snatched the only shot attempt, killing off a second power play back to back.
Williams won the next faceoff quickly skating the puck into the offensive zone down the right side with Chloe Noxon finding an opportunity, but just missing. Kelly McCarthy camped out in front of the net looking to get a tip-in off the shot from the point, but was
Denied by Wesleyan.
Wesleyan found a breakaway facing off one on one with Pye. Pye was able to catch a piece of the puck sending it up above the net. It was quickly recovered by Kelly McCarthy who carried it down the ice in another breakaway. The puck was swallowed up by Halloran.
In the subsequent faceoff Wesleyan gained control of the puck allowing them to fire off an array of shots on net. Wesleyan was able to shoot from the point which Pye deflected off her leg pad but it was tipped in making the score 1-0, giving the lead to the Cardinals at 18:33 late into the second period.
Early into the third period the Ephs took another penalty for tripping. Wesleyan capitalized on this power play firing off shots from the point. Pye was able to block a few attempts before the Cardinals found an open space between the post and Pye's skate to poke in and capitalize on the rebound at 3:51 into the third. Solidifying their lead 2-0 over Williams.
Williams came back with a close opportunity shooting the puck behind Halloran. In a race to the puck the Cardinals were able to scoop the puck out of the crease and away from danger before Williams was able to push it past the line into the goal. Williams came back with another flurry of shots attempting to collect rebounds, but Halloran came out of the net to gain control of the puck covering it and turning over possession.
Williams received another penalty but this time the Ephs found the upper hand. Delaney Szlezyngier quickly broke off from the faceoff carrying the puck down center ice in a one on one against Halloran. She took a slapshot, flying it past Halloran and burying it deep in the net. Making the score 2-1 Wesleyan 10:56 into the third.
Wesleyan rebounded 2 minutes later in a 2 on 1 attempt. The cardinals found an opportunity to break away with 2 Eph defenseman attempting to break up the play, Wesleyan got past them and found the back of the net around the left side of Pye, cushioning their lead to 3-1 at 12:07 in the third.
Williams took a timeout resulting in them pulling Pye with 5 minutes to go giving the Ephs an extra skater in hopes of converting the shots. Williams fired off a ton of shots inside the circle with teammates looking to tip in waiting inside the crease. Wesleyan received a penalty giving Williams 2 extra skaters.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals gained possession of the puck in their zone and shot the puck down center ice scoring in the empty net solidifying Wesleyan's win over Williams 4-1, 18:33 into the third.
Williams maintained good control of the puck throughout the entirety of the game and was able to create lots of scoring opportunities. Williams goaltender Erin Pye turned away 26 shots on goal letting in 3 while Wesleyan Rei Halloran also turned away 26 and let in 1.
Williams will rematch with Wesleyan University tomorrow in Middletown, Conn. at 3pm in the Spurrier-Snyder Rink.
