Box Score Williamstown, MA - The Williams College Ephs (11-9-1, 5-8-1 NESCAC) defended home ice and secured a statement victory over the #1 ranked team in the nation, the Middlebury College Panthers (18-3-1, 10-3-1 NESCAC), by a score of 4-1.
By the Numbers
- The Ephs recorded 38 shots on goal to the Panthers' 34.
- The Ephs were 0/1 on the power play, while the Panthers were 0/0.
- Seven different players recorded points for the Ephs.
Game Recap
- The Ephs found their first goal of the evening after some steady play in their offensive zone. Defenseman Maddie Zack fired a shot that was turned away by the Panthers' Sophia Will, but Chloe Noxon was able to tip the puck into the back of the net off the rebound to take the lead (11:57).
- The first period ended with some strong Eph chances, with the line of Sophia Hoppe, Jaelyn Keiver, and Skyler Moore contributing a solid shift.
- The Panthers opened the second period with increased vigor, and the game deadlocking seemed inevitable. With the puck being struggled for in their own offensive zone, Ephs' forward Lucie Bond passed the puck to first-year Charlotte Fetherson on the left side of the ice. With poise and composure, Fetherson fired a wrist shot to beat Will top left, taking a 2-0 lead for the Ephs (10:45).
- As the period came to a close, the Ephs grew their momentum with another score. An aggressive forecheck forced the Panthers to turn the puck over in their own defensive zone, and first-year forward Annie Gallagher came up with it. Gallagher sent a quick pass to Katherine Kang on her right, and Kang executed a beauty of a finish, scoring the puck while getting hit and falling to the ice to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Panthers (16:18).
- Seconds after Kang's goal, the Ephs went on the power play, but the Panthers' penalty kill unit proved formidable, holding the Ephs to zero shots (19:04).
- The Panthers opened the third period with a quick goal, coming down the ice and getting the one timer to go to bring the game to 3-1 (0:32).
- It took the Ephs exactly 29 seconds to respond, as Noxon came up with the puck during a scramble in front of the crease and scored the final goal to cap off the Ephs' 4-1 victory over the #1 team in the country (1:01).
Head Coach of the Ephs Meghan Gillis emphasized how important this win was for the team and the message it encapsulated about their character and determination "This is the best game we've played all season."
The Ephs will have an out of conference matchup against Plattsburgh State this Tuesday at home, with puck drop scheduled for 7PM.
