WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The Williams men’s hockey team increased their current unbeaten streak to seven, winning their third straight game by besting St. Michael’s 4-1 tonight. Senior Captain Alex Smigelski led the way with two goals and two assists, while junior Connor Olvany added a pair of goals to round out the scoring. Senior goalie Marc Pulde played excellent between the pipes, turning aside 23 of 24 St. Michael’s shots.
Williams got off to a strong start, jumping out to a 1-0 lead while dominating the purple knights 12-5 in shots. The Ephs controlled the play throughout the first period, creating numerous scoring opportunities, but could only convert once. Olvany notched his sixth goal in five games on a rocket slapshot from the top of the circle a minute into the Ephs’ first power play. Olvany took the pass from Smigelski and walked in from the blue line before ripping the shot over the glove of goalie Brendan Rimmer. Junior Ryan Young nearly doubled the Ephs lead when he received a great backdoor pass from freshman Evan Dugdale, but he was robbed by Rimmer’s outstretched pad.
The Ephs carried their momentum into the second period as Olvany scored his second of the game early in the period on the power play. Junior Brian Malchoff fired a shot from the high slot and the rebound fell right at the feet of Olvany who buried the puck for a 2-0 lead. St. Michael’s managed a few good chances just after the goal as they tried to fight back into the game, but Pulde was up to the task. Williams regained control near the midway point of the period and generated some great chances as the period wore on. Junior Ben Contini nearly scored off a 3 on 2 when the puck hopped onto his stick right in front of the goal, but Rimmer made a huge save to keep the knights alive. Freshman Cody Skinner stole the puck at center and went on a breakaway a minute later, but just missed getting the team’s first shorthanded goal, slipping the puck wide on a backhand attempt. Smigelski continued his stellar season, scoring with 4:04 left in the period on a great wristshot from the high slot.
St. Michael’s started the third period on the power play, but Williams got the better of the play. Skinner got another golden opportunity shorthanded when he was hauled down to draw a penalty shot. His shot just missed, but the Ephs were able to kill off the penalty and continued to pressure the knights the rest of the way. Williams went on the power play with 15 minutes to play when sophomore Ryan Scott connected on a laser one-timer that rang off the cross bar and back out. St. Michael’s got on the board just over halfway through the period when Brady Earle scored on a wrist shot in the slot. He was set up on a great behind-the-back pass from Nick Sheehan. Smigelski netted his fifteenth of the season and second of the game with four minutes left on a snipe from the slot.
The win, coupled with Amherst’s loss to Bowdoin, puts Williams in a tie for first place in the NESCAC standings. Williams faces a huge challenge tomorrow afternoon when the take on undefeated Norwich, the second-ranked team in the country.
