WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Maddie Samaan scored the first two goals of her career, including the game-winner, as the Williams College women's ice hockey team went into the Thanksgiving break with a 3-1 win at Western New England University on Tuesday night.
Becca White scored the third goal in the win and goaltender Erin Pye made 34 saves in net. With the victory, the Ephs improve to 2-1-1 on the season.
"I thought Erin was great again tonight and it was amazing to see Maddie Samaan step up with a big game with her first two college goals and Becca White getting her first college goal as well," said Head Coach Meghan Gillis. "The team worked well together to get a big win and the chance to enjoy a couple days off before the weekend."
The Ephs were in charge from the opening whistle, piling the shots on the WNE goal, but could not break through in the opening period. Williams had a 19-7 advantage in shots on goal over the Golden Bears in the first.
Williams finally broke through 5:10 into the second period, when Samaan took a pass from first-year defender Laney Mead and skated deep into the zone and tucked a backhanded shot past the Golden Bears' goalie.
WNEU evened the game out slightly in the second period, though Williams still outshot the hosts 13-10 in the session, but the Golden Bears did eventually tie the game in the third period. 5:23 into the third, a high rebound got tucked home from close range to tie the game.
However, Samaan was able to restore the Ephs' advantage just 1:10 later, when the forward skated to the corner and centered the puck. With Zoe Rosenberg screening the goalie, the puck deflected in to give Williams back the lead.
The Ephs iced the game later in the third when Becca White tipped in a shot from Isa Healey to extend the lead to 3-1, with a second assist going to Chloe Noxon. The goal came after sustained pressure in the WNEU zone, keeping the Golden Bears from making a line change.
Williams will enjoy a short Thanksgiving break before traveling to face Little Three rival Wesleyan on Saturday at 2pm, and playing another road game the next day at Keene State. The Ephs visit Plattsburgh State on December 6, and then finally return home in the new year, hosting Lake Forest College on January 2 at Lansing Chapman Rink.
