Amherst, MA – With first goals of the season from
Brady Welsch, first career goals from
Mel Mortarelli, and continued success from
Jake McManus, this game looked promising. The Williams College Ephs unfortunately let this game slip through their hands after starting off hot. A game that looked so strong from the start, seemed to just be mismanaged and victory was kept from the Ephs.
After a tough loss last night against Hamilton, the Ephs would look to bounce back this evening against their division rivals. Bounce back they did as the first period would be all Ephs. Just a couple minutes into the game,
Jack Sabre and
Trevor O'Brien would dominate the forecheck to find
Jake McManus in the slot to continue his dominant freshman year with another goal. The very next shift, after great support in the D-zone,
Mel Mortarelli would find
Ziv Deener-Chodirker up ice, only to receive the puck back and bury his first of his career as an Eph. The goals kept coming as
Brady Welsch, with a great pass from
Owen Stadheim backdoor, would find the first Powerplay goal for the Ephs this season.
Despite continued effort and determination from the Ephs, the rest of the game was an uphill battle. The second period remained scoreless with the Ephs leading 3-1, and neither side seeming to find any momentum. The third period started to look like Hamilton would start to have some success. Cal Sanquist did everything he could to try and keep the Ephs in this one, but after too many shots were let through, there was only so much he could do. With 45 seconds left in the 3
rd the Mammoths snuck one through to push this game into overtime.
Once again, there was a tremendous effort from Cal, but with time winding down and the Ephs on the kill, Hamilton would secure the win with 2 seconds left.
Coach Kangas had this to say after the game, "It was a tough way to end the first semester, but I'm proud how well the team bonded and competed together. Unfortunately, a late regulation and OT goals tainted an otherwise productive first term."
