HARTFORD, CT – With momentum shifts swinging all over the building at Koeppel Community Sports Center, the Williams College Ephs (8-9-2) battled back twice to put this game into overtime against the Trinity College Bantams (14-5-1). Despite last second goals, unbelievable goal tending, and a tremendous effort up and down the ice, Williams fell in overtime by a score of 5-4.
Stepping out to start this game, the Ephs were looking for 3 points to end the weekend. That would prove to be a challenge as the Bantam's came out shooting everything that came their way. Senior goaltender and captain Cal Sanquist stood on his head through the first 20 minutes. Williams showed good pressure in the offensive zone, but they were struggling, slightly, in the defensive end to maintain possession and get the puck moving up the ice. They walked away from the first trailing by one, but still very much in the hunt.
The team's determination paid off in the 2
nd when only 4 minutes into the game, freshman
Grant Fuchsen put the Ephs on the board and started moving this train in the right direction. 10 minutes later
Rowan Heithoff buried the second Eph goal off a great play from
Connor Berg and Rowan's brother
Nate Heithoff. The third Eph goal was found by the stick of junior
Jared Lambright finding his first goal of the season. This came off a great saucer pass from below the goalie by
Rowan Heithoff to Connor Fitzpatrick who walked the Trinity defenseman through the slot. From walking into this period trailing by 1, the Ephs now found themselves in a very strong spot leading 3-2.
The third period was a complete barn burner. Two goals by Trinity college saw the Ephs down by 1 with less than a minute left in regulation. But, with 14 seconds left in the game, who else besides captain
Owen Stadheim in front of the net battling against the Bantam's defensemen to tip a shot home from
Grant Fuchsen to put this game into overtime.
There were shots, plays, and blocks all over the ice in the short 5-minute frame. Unfortunately, Trinity capitalized with just a few seconds left to give this game to the Bantam's.
Eph head coach
Bill Kangas had this to say afterwards, "I thought today's game was a hard fought, well-played game by both teams. I like how we competed, communicated and stayed with it together all game long. The energy and enthusiasm was contagious; we will learn from our overall effort today and be even more determined and unified as a group in practice this week as we prepare for a very tough home and home series next weekend with Middlebury."
