Box Score Amherst, MA – In a year of ups and downs, the Williams College Ephs ultimately found themselves in overtime with the Bowdoin College Polar Bears for the NESCAC title. After a few minutes of contested hockey, Bowdoin took advantage of an open-point shot and ended the Ephs' fairytale run.
Much of the action in this feverish final occurred in the opening twelve minutes. Bowdoin would open the game with a thundering statement goal just 14 seconds into the game. Any game plan the Ephs came in with was immediately thrown out. Williams would answer emphatically as
Mac Carso would finish a back door pass from
David Vieten to draw level just 4 minutes later.
Vieten would find himself on the score sheet shortly after, hitting
Owen Stadheim on the rush who found a hole in the Bowdoin goaltender to take the lead. Similar to the opening of the game, however, Bowdoin would win a battle deep in the Ephs' zone and scrape home a goal 14 seconds after the Ephs' tally. The Polar Bears were hungry for more, throwing everything at the Ephs' defense.
Evan Ruschil, in true Ruschil fashion, made 3 or 4 marquee saves to keep Williams in the game.
The Ephs would come out in the second with a pep in their step, taking the game back to Bowdoin. For twenty minutes, the two finalists went back and forth combining for 33 SOG and requiring each goalie to come up with an answer.
The third period saw much of this 200-foot action continue, neither team backing down from the challenge at hand. With time winding down in the game,
Evan Ruschil made several game-saving saves to ensure the Ephs would make it to the overtime frame. He is credited with 51 saves tonight and around 100 on the weekend, an unbelievable feat.
Four minutes into the period, Bowdoin would cycle a puck low and find their defenseman open in the slot. All 5 Williams players attempted to get in front of the shot but to no avail. The Ephs season ended as the puck found the top corner.
After the game, Coach Kangas said "We want to honor the seniors tonight, the effort they have given to this program is what got us here tonight. It is unfortunate to have the game end as it did, but the team fought incredibly hard to get us to that point and it could have gone either way."
Congratulations on a terrific run this season, we can't wait to see what the Ephs have In store for us next season!
