Ephs fend off fiesty Vikings with two late goals, win 4-2
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass – The Williams College men’s hockey team used two goals from senior captain Brandon Jackmuff to propel them to a 4-2 victory over visiting conference foe Salem State Saturday. The victory stops a two-game losing skid for the Ephs, and earns them their first conference victory of the year.
The Ephs found their stride early, but it was the Vikings who struck first. After killing off a Williams’s power play, Salem State immediately went on the offensive. After working the puck around the Eph defense, the Vikings eventually found Chris McInnis, who flicked a close range shot across the face of Eph goaltender Marc Pudle (35 saves) and past his glove, giving the Vikings a 1-0 advantage.
The second period saw increasingly physical play, with the Ephs and Vikings recording three and four penalties respectively. However it was the Ephs who took advantage of their power play opportunities; eventually evening the score when Brandon Jackmuff took an Alex Smigelski pass and buried it in the net with little over five minutes remaining in the period.
The third period began heavily contested, with each team increasingly stretching to impose its will and net the goal. However, the Vikings broke first, letting up a goal when Brett Haraguchi opportunistically slapped in a Zach Miller ricochet with 13:29 left in the game.
But the Vikings weren’t done, and in one of the games more dramatic sequences, they advanced the puck deep into Eph territory and put together a series of quick passes that culminated in an Aaron Blades redirection shot, evening the score a minute later.
The final seven minutes saw the games most intense action, as both teams battled for the puck. But, again the Ephs struck back first. This time when Brandon Jackmuff fired a stick side lazer that gave the goaltender no chance, giving the Ephs the advantage and the win.
The Ephs recorded a very late insurance goal when an Alex Smigelski shot found an empty net (the Vikings had pulled their goalie) with five seconds remaining.
“I'm very pleased. We ddefinitely showed a lot of progress as a team. I'm especially pleased with how we found a way to claw it out at the end.” Remarked Eph coach Bill Kangas, “It was a great conference win.”
The Ephs next game is scheduled for next Saturday, the 8th, at home against visiting SUNY Plattsburgh.
