Williamstown, MA – This midweek heavyweight matchup saw the #18 Williams College Ephs (1-1) faceoff against their second top-20 opponent in a row as the #11 Union College Garnet Chargers rolled into town. A massive eight goal second quarter from Union was erased by a hopeful second half by the Ephs. With just two minutes left in a tied game, Union would score and slam the door on the upset as they edged the Ephs 12-11.
It would prove to be a slow start in the drizzling rain at Farley-Lamb Field with both teams struggling to complete passes in the slick conditions. The ever-slippery
Calvin Caputo would take advantage early on as he drew a Union penalty driving to the net before finishing high far side to open the scoring. The back-and-forth action continued for a majority of the quarter, however, the Garnet Chargers would make a statement before the buzzer went. Union would score two goals late in the quarter to take a 2-1 lead, resulting in a Williams timeout with 20 seconds left. On the ensuing possession,
Seamus Regan slid a ball to
Calvin Caputo who snuck in a shot from a bad angle to tie the game at 2-2.
Williams would start the second quarter just as they had ended the first.
Will Doran fired home a shot from another tough angle to take the lead before
Nick Bates would do the same to extend the score to 4-2 Ephs. Union would not take long to answer back as. Following an Eph penalty, they cut the Williams' lead to one goal. The resulting faceoff was won by Union and immediately put in the back of the Ephs' net to level the game at 4-4. Union would keep rolling as they then scored three goals in the next two and a half minutes to go up 7-4. After a nice defensive stop from the Ephs with five minutes remaining, the Ephs went on the attack for the first time in several minutes.
Ryan Johnson cranked a sidearm shot into the top corner to draw one goal back. Continuing their perfect form in the faceoff circle, Union would once again score immediately off the draw to retake a three-goal lead. 8-5 became 9-5 soon after as Union would score their seventh of the quarter.
The Ephs would once again begin the quarter in strong fashion.
Will Doran passed the ball to Finlay Macknight who buried it to bring the score to 10-6 Union. After a strong defensive play and ground ball pickup from
Eddie Loyd, the long pole would shovel a pass to
Pearse Glavin who fired it home to make it 10-7.
Matt Wetmore would ensure the Ephs stayed in the game with two big back-to-back saves right after the Ephs goal. After giving up eight goals in the second quarter, the Ephs effort in the third would give them a chance as they entered the last 15 minutes down 10-7.
Calvin Caputo would start the quarter off right as he finished his hat trick just fifteen seconds in. On
Ian Kim's face off win following the goal, the FOGO would charge the Union net and score to make it 10-9. Several minutes later, the Ephs would continue their storm of goals as Macknight set up
Ryan Johnson for his second of the game. Union would retake a one goal lead, but Williams once again had an answer.
Will Doran would level the game at 11-11 with just three minutes remaining. After Union took the lead a minute later, it was up to the Ephs' offense to rescue the game. With just under ten seconds left, the Ephs had a golden opportunity but were denied by the stellar Union goalie as Williams fell 12-11 to No. 11 Union.
Eph head coach
George McCormack spoke after the loss regarding what the team learned from this game: "Regardless of whether we won or lost at the end, the message would have been the same. It is very difficult to start a game slowly and beat a team like Union. That being said, our defense came to play in the second half and our offense did what they needed to for much of that game. Going on a 6-2 run for the final two quarters is a great feat against a team like that and the guys should be proud of their effort."
Williams heads to Bates College to begin their NESCAC season at noon on Saturday.
