Norwich, VT – The Ephs looked to try and push through in the semi-final game against Norwich University to play Hamilton College in the championship game. Unfortunately, after battling for 3 periods and through overtime, the Ephs would fall 2-1 in a shoot out.
The first period was full of Eph penalties. The penalty kill came up huge with a great effort from
William Yee and
David Vieten and the rest of the penalty kill units. Once the Ephs battled through those penalties, they went to work. Norwich University had no answer for the Ephs constant pressure. Despite there not being any goals, the momentum was fully in the hands of the Ephs.
Walking into the second period Williams found the first goal at the 8:58 mark with
William Yee tallyimg his first goal as an Eph on the power play. Yhis invigorated the Eph attack. The Ephs generated constant offensive zone possession with shots and chances coming almost every shift.
Mel Mortarelli would lead the physical charge up and down the ice, while
Connor Berg had a great second frame finding seems through the Norwich forwards and putting pucks on net. The Ephs left the second frame up 1 – 0.
The third period would begin the same way the second had ended. Williams continued to show great determination up and down the ice. Williams out shot and out chanced Norwich as goali Cal Sanquist still stood on his head during the Cadets' first power play in the period. Despite that Norwich found a power play goal that would tie the game at 1-1.
An extra frame was needed to settle this one.
Owen Stadheim and
Brady Welsch would work superbly together to try and give this game to the Ephs. Unfortunately, Norwich would hold on and overtime would come to end. This game would now be decided in a shootout. Despite a great effort from
Cal Sandquist, Nick Rashkovsky,
Jake McManus, and Trevor O'Brein, Norwich would win this one after scoring on their second shot.
The Ephs will play Plymouth State in tomorrow's bottom bracket in Norwich. Eph head coach
Bill Kangas had this to say after the game: "It's been a month since our last game, yet the team played very well to start the new year. Playing against a very talented Norwich team, we demonstrated good puck movement, played with pace, had quality scoring chances, but ended up with a 1-1 tie. We look forward to tomorrow's afternoon contest against a very strong Plymouth State team."
