Rochester, N.Y. - The Williams College Ephs (6-3-2, 4-1-1 NESCAC) made the lengthy journey to Rochester, N.Y. to play the #15 Nazareth University Golden Flyers (7-5-1, 7-0-1 UCHC) in what proved to be a highly contested battle; however, stellar all-around play from the away side pushed the Ephs over the edge and added another win onto their record.
By the Numbers
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The Ephs scored three unanswered goals en route to victory.
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The Ephs were 0/2 on the power play while the Golden Flyers were 0/1.
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This is the Ephs' first victory against a nationally ranked opponent this season.
Game Recap
Junior forward Sophia Hoppe substituted into overtime for the Ephs with 4:28 left in the period. 8 seconds later, she ended the game. Hoppe took a loose puck on her stick and zipped a wrist shot past the Golden Flyers' goaltender to score the game-winning goal, giving the Ephs a win over a top-15 nationally ranked opponent (00:40).
The game began quite slow for both teams offensively. On the Ephs' side, junior goaltender Amanda Lackmann made her second start of the season one to remember, as she turned away a number of the Golden Flyers' chances. The Flyers eventually broke through on a 1-on-1 breakaway opportunity, beating Lackmann to the left side to give the team a 1-0 advantage that persisted throughout the remainder of the period (16:51).
The second period saw the Ephs receive two power play opportunities, both of which the Flyers stuffed. The Flyers' sole power play opportunity of the period was also unsuccessful, but their goal late into the 2nd saw them enter the period holding the most dangerous lead in hockey: 2-0 (18:03).
About midway through the 3rd period, Celine Mayer began to prove why that 2-0 lead is so dangerous when she scored her first collegiate career goal (9:57). The first year defenseman received a pass from Lucie Bond and scored a beautiful shot from the blue line that cut the deficit in half. As the period went on, the Ephs ramped up the intensity, and in the dying minutes of the period, Eph head Coach Megan Gillis decided to pull Lackmann. This decision proved to be fruitful for the Ephs when sophomore forward Leah Rubinshteyn rebounded the puck in the crease and scored for the Ephs to tie the game at 2-2 (17:48). The game would remain at a deadlock for the remainder of the period, and when the buzzer sounded, the Ephs huddled up in preparation for their second overtime period over the past two games.
Overtime for the Ephs was short and sweet: Hoppe's quick goal prompted an eruption of cheers from her teammates, capping off an impressive comeback victory.
After the game, coach Gills stated, "I think the team was really relentless and connected in the third and OT. We came out slow and slowly got better each period. Celine Mayer scored her first college goal to get things going. The 6v5 played great to tie the game up and Sophia Hoppe scored a beautiful OT winner"
Next up for the Ephs, they will take on #7 Hamilton College at home on Friday, January 12th, with puck drop scheduled for 7 PM.
