Jordan's OT score lifts Ephs past Salem State, 5-4
SALEM, Mass. - Williams senior Octavian Jordan scored just 2:10
into overtime to push the Ephs past Salem State 5-4 Saturday. The
Ephs finish the weekend with a win and a loss and improve their
overall record to 4-2, while the Vikings fall to 3-3.
Jordan's late score put an end to a back-and-forth contest which
saw the Ephs crawl back from a two goal deficit with three straight
scores, only to surrender a goal to the Vikings with under two
minutes remaining to force the overtime.
The bulk of the offense came in the games opening period, starting
with a score from senior Brett Haraguchi, just 2:47 in, which gave
the Ephs the early advantage. However, by the 11:22 mark of the
first period the Vikings had stormed back with three unanswered
goal to take a 3-1 lead.
Junior captain Alex Smigelski and sophomore Brian Malchoff would
lead the Eph comeback in the latter part of the second and
beginning of the third periods, with Smigelski bookending the three
goal burst and Malchoff providing the middle goal to give the Ephs
the 4-3 advantage with just over fifteen minutes remaining in
regulation.
However, the Ephs gave Salem State a late opening with in ill
advised penalty and the opportunistic Vikings were quick to take
advantge, knotting the score at 4-4 and forcing the
overtime.
Smigelski's pair of goals and assist on Jordan's game winner
proved to be the driving force for the Eph offense. First year Eph
goaltender Ryan Purdy made his first start of the season one to
remember as he stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced.
The Ephs go into the midseason holiday break with a solid record
and a win to dwell on. They will look to keep it going after the
recess when they head to the Plattsburgh Tournament January 2nd
through the 3rd. In the opening round, the Ephs will play Castelton
State. That games is scheduled to start at 4:00 PM Friday, January
2nd.
