Amherst, MA – In many ways this game was the pinnacle of the season for the Williams College Ephs (9-13-1, 6-10-1) as they squared off with arch rival Amherst College (13-9-1, 8-8-1). In a win-or-you're-out game for the visiting Ephs, the game had an edge throughout and climaxed with the teams entering the third period tied 3-3. With their season on the line, Williams silenced the rowdy Amherst crowd with a late
Henry Muller goal as they skated to a crucial 5-4 win.
The game was at a fever-pitch from the opening puck drop; both teams were hungry to take the early advantage. It would be the visitors who would strike first as
Logan Valkama threw a puck towards the net.
David Vieten would control the bobbling puck and spin a shot on net that snuck home to open the scoring for the Ephs. For a large stretch of the opening frame, Williams looked the better team and had many chances to double their lead. That being said, Amherst found a lot of success on the counter attack and would have been level if it was not for
Cal Sandquist in the Ephs' goal. The junior came up big on multiple occasions en route to 37 saves on the night, but was finally beaten on the Mammoths' fourth breakaway of the first period. With the teams level at the end of the first, a three period marathon became a two period sprint for the three points.
The second period would be an eventful one as both teams jockeyed for momentum and control of the game. Amherst would strike first seven minutes into the frame to take a 2-1 lead off a deflection in front. Just two minutes later, however, the Ephs would answer.
Nicholas Rashkovsky applied a relentless forecheck and kicked the puck to
Brady Welsch. The first-year was able to handle the bouncing puck and slide it to
Jamie Cates who found the top corner to tie the game at two apiece. The Mammoths would fire right back on a man-advantage to retake a one goal lead. Williams would not take long to again quiet the crowd as
Jonah Gold converted off a pass from
Jarin Sutton and then
Henry Muller before firing it towards goal and finding a hole to make it 3-3. The teams searched for a fourth goal, but the period would end even just as it had begun.
A massive third period was ahead for the Ephs who desperately needed a win to stay in playoff contention. For fifteen minutes, neither team could find a goal to take the lead despite many chances coming from the visitors. Ultimately, it would be
Henry Muller who had the game on his stick as he drove hard to the far post and found the back of the net to take the Ephs ahead 4-3. With five minutes remaining in the game, the Ephs needed to just maintain a lead to put themselves in a great spot for post season play heading into the last game of the regular season. With a minute on the clock,
Connor Tobin would collect a chipped puck from
Owen Stadheim and fire it into the empty net to extend the lead to 5-3. Amherst would add a goal with two seconds on the clock, but it was too little too late as the Ephs collected the three points in their rivals' rink.
Eph head coach
Bill Kangas was stoic after the win saying, "We played how we needed to today. We looked very dangerous heading forward and defended when we needed to down to the final seconds. I am extremely proud of the effort today, but we know what needs to be done tomorrow at Hamilton if we want to make it into the playoffs."
The Ephs end the regular season tomorrow at Hamilton at 3pm. A win goes a long way for the Ephs but they will still be reliant on other results to crack the top-8.
