WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- The Williams College men's hockey team fell into a three-way tie for first place in the NESCAC, losing 4-2 to rival #9 Middlebury. Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead, dominating much of the first period, but gave up three quick goals midway through the second period that proved to be the difference. The Ephs fought hard for the tying goal late in the game, but came up just short as the Panthers scored on an empy net goal with less than a minute left to seal the victory.
Both teams came charging out of the gate, playing a fast-paced, back and forth game that put a lot of pressure on the goalies. Eight minutes into the game, Junior Ben Contini stole the puck at center ice and skated in on a breakaway. He beat Middlebury goaltender John Yanchek but the puck hit the post and was cleared away. Middlebury gathered the puck and went down on a 2 on 1 rush, but Eph goalie Ryan Purdy '12 came up with a huge diving save. Williams started to take control from then, using a pair of power play goals to take the lead. With just under ten minutes to play and with the teams playing 4 on 4 hockey, junior Matty Masucci skated in on a 2 on 1 and fed the puck across to senior captain Alex Smigelski who was hauled down to put the Ephs on a 4 on 3 advantage. On the power play, freshman Mike Broft gathered a pass from junior Brian Malchoff, walked in from the point and sniped a snapshot off the cross bar and in. Williams went on the power play again less than two minutes later when Chris Steele was called for roughing. This time Malchoff found Contini in the slot who fired a shot high on Yanchek. Yanchek made the save, but Malchoff buried the rebound to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead. Williams seemed to have all the momentum but could not find the net again in the period.
Middlebury began to claw back into the came in the second and shocked the Ephs with three goals in a five minute span midway through the period. Middlebury got on the board when senior captain John Sullivan gained control of the puck behind the net, skated out in front untouched, waited for Purdy to go down and slid the puck in on his backhand. Middlebury scored less than a minute later when NESCAC points leader Martin Drolet found Ken Suchoski back door with a perfect pass that he redirected into the open net. Before Williams could catch their breath, the Panthers went on the power play when sophomore Justin Troiani was called for boarding. A minute in to the man advantage Suchoski buried his second of the game on a one-timer from the low slot. Williams Head Coach Bill Kangas called a timeout to steady things for the Ephs, but the damage was done. Williams managed a few late chances in the period, but couldn't beat Yanchek.
Williams got their best chances to tie the score midway through the third period on the power play. Smigelski found Contini right on the doorstep but Contini's shot just slipped wide. Freshman Evan Dugdale had another chance with eight minutes to play as he skated down the boards and fired a shot that beat Yanchek but just missed the net. On the other end, the Panthers came within inches of taking a two-goal lead twice. On the power play a one-timer from the slot beat Purdy and rang off the post and crossbar before bouncing out. With less than five minutes to play, the Panthers put the puck in the net but had the goal waved off because it was kicked in. Middlebury sealed the win when John Sullivan scored his second of the game on an empty net goal in the waning seconds.
The loss prevents the Ephs from claiming the outright lead in the race for the regular season championship. Williams is now tied with Bowdoin and Amherst and sits only one point ahead of Middlebury and Trinity. Williams closes the season with a pair of road trips. The Ephs travel to Boston this weekend to take on Babson and UMass Boston.
