Williamstown, MA -- The Williams College Ephs (0-1-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) were narrowly defeated by the Bowdoin College Polar Bears (1-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) in the season debut.
With the game deadlocked at a score of 2-2, a neutral zone turnover from the Ephs gave Polar Bears' first-year forward Bella Mele a chance on the net 14:22 into the third period. Mele's wrist shot from the left side of the ice beat Eph goaltender Erin Pye, and it would prove to be the goal the Polar Bears needed to win the inaugural game of the season.
The first period began highly contested, with both teams full of energy. Bowdoin's Ella Cassidy picked up a tripping penalty at 4:45, which would be the first of eight penalties that Bowdoin committed during the game. During this first power play, Lucie Bond, Claire Murphy, Chloe Noxon, and Celine Mayer would all have shots turned away by the Polar Bears' junior goaltender Sally Solotaroff-Webber, who had an impressive night in the cage, totaling 47 saves. Bowdoin's penalty kill unit was also staunch tonigh, holding the Ephs scoreless on eight power play opportunities.14:51 into the first period, and 27 seconds into Bowdoin's initial power play on the day, Gia Massari netted her first of two goals. However, Williams responded quickly. At 15:45, less than a minute after Massari's goal, Claire Murphy scored the Ephs' first goal of the season—Murphy also scored the Ephs' first goal of the season last year. As the first period dwindled down, Kathryn Kester's shot was deflected into the net by Massari, for her second goal of the game, at 19:45.
The second period opened up with the Eph forwards getting good chances at the net, but they weren't able to convert until 9:59 into the period. Senior forward Jill Parsons took the puck from the neutral zone and scored a dazzling goal which invigorated the crowd, tying the game at 2-2. As the second period came to a close, Erin Pye made a timely save, preventing a Bowdoin breakaway goal.
Despite the Polar Bears committing three penalties in the third period, the Ephs weren't able to convert; down 3-2, the Ephs pulled Pye on their final power play opportunity of the game before the final buzzer sounded.
Eph head oach Meghan Gillis commented, "Overall, we actually had some really good moments, a lot of really good chances, and lots of rebounds— just looking to build on putting some of those away tomorrow."
The Ephs will look to avenge this loss tomorrow when they play Bowdoin again at 3 P.M.
