Williams Men's Basketball
Ephs defeat Panthers 88-63; Host Tufts Tuesday
The afternoon of February 16 at Chandler Gymnasium, Williams completed their regular season schedule with an 88-63 win over the visiting Middlebury Panthers. The loss pushed Middlebury to 11-13 on the season and 3-6 in NESCAC play. The Eph win moved the team to 20-4 (7-2 in NESCAC), making this the 10th straight 20-win season for the team. Coach Dave Paulsen was very proud of the accomplishment, "(20 wins) is the standard we set for ourselves as a program. This school, and this team in particular, is about excellence and reaching that mark again shows how we have been able to sustain that excellence for many years."
Williams jumped out to an early 11-0 lead at the 14:45 mark behind 3 pointers from sophomores Michael Crotty (Belmont, MA) and Chuck Abba (Delmar, NY). Stifling defense from the Ephs allowed Williams to stretch the lead to 20-4 with 9:12 left in the half before the Panthers finally made their first goal of the game. When sophomore Ben Coffin (Westford, MA) was forced to the bench with his third personal foul, Junior Eric Bundonis (Fairfield, CT) led the Panthers back into the game with a 30-18 run to close out the half with the score 38-34 in favor of the Ephs.
After Paulsen stressed the need to play "smart basketball, where we stop making bad fouls with the shot clock running out, taking quick shots out of rhythm, and turning the ball over," at the half, the Ephs came out sizzling. Behind Coffin's 16 points and 7 rebounds, Williams went on a 20-9 run to open the half. The Ephs picked apart the Middlebury press to get easy baskets during this stretch behind the smart play of Crotty, who finished with 13 points and 7 assists.
Freshman Simon Behan (Dublin, Ireland) brought the Panthers back to within nine with two 3-pointers, on his way to 15 points for the game. Junior co-captains Tim Folan (Kensington, MD) and Drew DeMuth (Carlisle, PA) helped open up the game for good as the Ephs cruised through the last 10 minutes of the game on their way to the 25-point win. Folan scored 15 points on 6-8 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds, while DeMuth had a game-high 14 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive end, and 12 points.
Paulsen was pleased with the team's play with the exception of the final minutes of the first half. He pointed to the fact that the team completed six of its seven goal for the game for the first time all season. Looking forward to the NESCAC tournament Paulsen added, "We won't have as wide a margin of error in the tournament, so we can't have stretches of bad basketball and still be successful."
Williams enters the NESCAC tournament as the number 2 seed, where it will host Tufts on Tuesday night, February 19 at 8 pm in Chandler Gymnasium. The Ephs defeated Jumbos 85-69 at Tufts last Friday night.
Williams Woman's Basketball
Williams loses heartbreaker at Middlebury 58-55
The Williams Ephs 17-7 lost its season finale on Saturday afternoon at Middlebury 20-4 by a score of 58-55.
The contest for Route 7 was a nail-bitter for all 40 minutes. The eventual victor emerged only in the final seconds. The Ephs led 54-52 at 2:32 left on a lay-up by Melissa Sheffington. Panther Alexis Batten tied it up at 54 with 1:21 on the clock. Middlebury took the lead with 44 seconds left on Megan McCoske's jumper. Coach Pat Manning called a time-out to set up the Ephs for the next possession. Skeffington was fouled going to the hoop with just nine seconds left. Skeffington made her first field goal, but missed the second. The Ephs were forced to foul after the miss. Katie Shutte made both her field goals to clinch the game for the hometown Panthers.
Neither team was able to break out any point in the game. Neither team led by more than six points at any point in the contest. In the first half, Williams took the lead 16-15 with 6:16 on the clock. It was a lead the Ephs would hold until the second half.. Williams lead at half time 29-26.
Abi Jackson led the Ephs throughout the day, scoring 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Kate Stumpo finished with 10. For Middlebury, Alexis Hollinger had a big game, tossing in 18 points to go along with her 11 rebounds. Batten scored 11 for the Panthers.
With the lose, Williams falls to 6-3 in conference play, placing the Ephs in fourth in the standings. Williams is scheduled to host in the first round of the NESCAC tournament next Tuesday, February 19 against Colby. The game is scheduled to start at 6 pm in Chandler Gymnasium.
Williams Women's Hockey
Wendy Stone had a goal and two assists, and Fern Senior came through with a tremendous shutout as Williams defeated Colby 5-0 Saturday night.
After being beaten up in Maine by the White Mules on December 7, the Ephs wanted to come out and prove they were ready for the playoffs. Senior and the Williams defense made sure of it, as the sophomore stopped all 19 shots she faced en route to the shutout.
The scoring began in the first period, as Karen Thome took an Annie Snodgrass pass and beat White Mule goalie Lynn Hasday. Williams was able to take a two-goal lead into the locker room, as senior Amanda Weber beat Hasday off assists from Caitlin Bowler and Stone.
In the second it was more of the same story. Senior remained solid in net and the offence received a boost off an unassisted goal from Stone, and a power play goal from Snodgrass that was assisisted by Molly Wasserman.
With a safe four-goal cushion, Williams buckled down the defense and Senior continued to dominate Colby. A third period power play tally from Wasserman was the final lamp lighting of the night, as the Ephs came away with the 5-0 triumph.
February 20 is another test for Williams, as they try and avenge December 8 4-2 loss to Bowdoin at Lansing Chapman.
Williams Men's Hockey
Ephs hammer St. Michael's 9-3. Hamilton or Trinity loss gives Ephs home playoff game.
One day after taking a night off offensively, the Ephs exploded against St. Michael's. Jake Clapton and Andrew Beasley scored two goals apiece as Williams hammered St. Michael's 9-3 Saturday, February 16. Williams, who entered the game in fifth place in the NESCAC will need either Hamilton or Trinity to lose today to earn a home playoff game.
A night after firing only 16 shots against Norwich, the Ephs peppered St. Michael;s goalies Simon Theberge and Andy Joy with 48 shots on goal.
Beasley, who also had two assists, opened the scoring two minutes in and Williams (14-8-2) never looked back. His second goal, which came in the third period, made it 6-3 after St. Michael's had climbed to within two. Beasley is now tied with Wes Fox for the team lead in goals with 12. Fox scored a power play goal in the second, one of four for the Ephs on the day.
Dan Cotuno continued his torrid scoring, adding a goal and four assists. Dan Houck had three assists and Alex Garceau added two as the Williams seniors, playing in the final regular season game at Lansing Chapman Rink, combined for 14 points on the day.
Ben Flash was solid in goal for the Ephs, stopping 18-21 shots to earn his seventh win of the season. For the second time this season, Matt Starkey brought the crowd to its feet in the third period, making four Roy-like saves. Entering the ice to the "Rudy" theme song, Starkey shutout St Michael's over the final 4:48.
Brent Kozel, the Ephs' intimidating enforcer was a scratch with a hand injury.
Williams now awaits for results of Trinity and Hamilton. In case of a tie, the Ephs hold the tiebreaker over Hamilton, but the Bantams have a tiebreaker over the Ephs. Playoff details will be released shortly.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Samuel Currence served his country in the Air Force with distinction, professionalism and unparalleled humility from 1962 to 1985, retiring as a technical sergeant. click for more
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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