Williams College Men's Ice Hockey Tie Connecticut
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After a tough overtime loss Friday night against the Tufts University Jumbos, the Ephs were determined to get back into the win column. After falling behind early in the first period, Ephs' freshman defender David Jerrett's third period goal would bring the game to overtime. After neither team was able to score in the extra period, the game came to an end in a tie.
The first period was a fast paced, aggressive once as the Camels put the Ephs on their heels, scoring just five minutes into the game. Camels' freshman defender, Mike Doyle fired a snap shot from the left point that beat Ephs' senior goalie Ryan Purdy for the first goal of the game.
Williams was quick to respond when Ephs' forward Evan Dugdale evened the score at 1-1 only three minutes later. After a Camels' turnover in their own defensive end, Ephs'defenseman Justin Troiani found Dugdale who fired a wrist shot to the top left corner over the shoulder of Camels goalie Marcus Calvanico.
Shortly after Dugdale's game tying goal, the Ephs were whistled for their first penalty of the afternoon. The Connecticut power play kept the pressure on the Ephs and was able to give the Camels their one goal lead back.
With nine minutes remaining in the opening period and the Camels still with a man advantage, Camels' sophomore forward Keith Veronesi found senior forward J.J. McGregor who fired a one timer past Purdy to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Camels.
The Ephs had several chances to tie the game in the closing minutes of the 1st period, but strong goaltending from Calvanico helped the Camels keep their 1 goal lead when the horn sounded end the opening period of play.
Both teams began the second period with the same energy as the first. Physical play from both sides kept the pace up but neither team was able to take advantage of their early scoring opportunities.
Finally the Ephs were able to respond again with just four minutes left in the second period which tied the game again, this time at 2-2.
Ephs' forward Alex DeBaere made a nice move to beat Calvanico after receiving a centering pass to the slot from sophomore defenseman Paul Steinig. Matt Doyle also tallied an assist on the second equalizing goal.
Play continued to flow from end to end and it seemed as if time would expire leaving the two teams tied going into the third.
With only 20 seconds left in the in the period, Camels freshman forward JC Cangelosi received a break away pass that left him one on one with Purdy and with a defender on his back . Cangelosi was able to put Purdy off balance and score in the remaining seconds of the period to give the Camels their one goal lead back, 3-2 going into the third and final period.
The third period opened with a Connecticut penalty in the first minute. The Ephs' power play, determined to even the score once again, kept the pressure on the Camels' penalty kill.
The Ephs were able to benefit from their man advantage as Troiani was able to find fellow defenseman Jerrett along the blue line who fired a slap shot that snuck right over the blocker of Calvanico and underneath the cross bar to tie the game one last time at 3 goals a piece.
The Camels would be awarded one more power play before time expired in regulation, but were not able to capitalize as the Ephs' penalty kill handled the Camels' man advantage rather soundly.
Both teams had chances in the final minutes of play to put the winning goal on the board but would come up short.
Camels' sophomore defenseman Kevin Reich sent one in front of Purdy but it was redirected just wide of the goal.
With less the 5 seconds left, the Ephs skated down 2 on 1 towards the Camels' goal when Steinig crossed the puck to sophomore forward Matt Doyle who fired a wrist shot too high as time expired in regulation and the game would head to overtime.
"Any night can go either way," Ephs' head coach Bill Kangas said. "We won the third period, but still struggled to finish. Both teams had their chances but the goalies played great tonight."
The overtime period couldn't help decide the outcome of this one as the Ephs kept the pressure on but to no avail; the final horn sounded with the score still tied at 3-3.
"Tonight was our 8th overtime game this season," Kangas said. "That really speaks to the resilience of our team."
The Ephs will suit up again on Feb. 4 at Trinity University at 7 p.m.
