Contact: Matthew Hart
AMHERST, Mass. – Williams College forward Nick Anderson '14 scored twice and goalie Sean Dougherty '15 made 35 saves as the visiting Ephs defeated Amherst College, 4-2, in NESCAC men's hockey action Friday at Orr Rink.
Brian Safstrom '14 and Aaron Deutsch '15 scored late second-period goals for Amherst, cutting a 3-0 Eph lead to 3-2, but the 10th-ranked Lord Jeffs (14-6-3, 10-5-2 NESCAC) couldn't find the equalizer as No. 11 Williams improved to 14-6-3 (11-4-2 NESCAC). With Middlebury also winning, the Panthers and Ephs remain tied for third place in the crowded conference standings while Amherst falls to fifth heading into Saturday's regular season finale.
After a 2-1 triumph at home on Dec. 7, the Williams win also gives the Ephs a season sweep of the rival Jeffs after Amherst had won seven straight contests heading into the year.
It was all Williams early as Anderson netted a shorthanded goal midway through the first period and back-to-back tallies from Cody Skinner '13 and Anderson early in the second staked the Ephs to a 3-0 advantage. Safstrom and Deutsch's goals brought a sizeable Orr Rink crowd back to life, but Zander Masucci '16 sealed the win for Williams with a third-period strike.
After the Jeffs killed an early Williams power play, the Ephs turned the tables, spoiling Amherst's first man-up opportunity as Anderson opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal 11:09 into the first. Eric Rubino '13 started the sequence as he picked off an errant Jeff pass and raced in for a breakaway. Amherst goalie Nathan Corey '13 was up to the task, deflecting Rubino's slap shot from the left side, but the rebound flew straight to Anderson in the slot and the Eph junior beat Corey top-shelf left.
Late in the period, Williams picked up a pair of penalties just 30 seconds apart, but Amherst wasted the golden opportunity to equalize as the Jeffs couldn't convert despite going up two skaters for nearly a minute and a half. Amherst ended the frame with a 12-7 shot advantage but nothing to show for it thanks to Dougherty's dozen saves.
Williams swelled its lead early in the second, striking twice in a 47-second span. Looking to dump it into the corner, John Wickman '13 sent the puck off the right boards, but an odd bounce fortuitously found Skinner directly in front of the Amherst net for a backhand five-hole finish at the 2:12 mark. Controlling play after the faceoff, the Ephs scored again just seconds later as Craig Kitto '15 found Anderson at close range for the junior's second of the night.
Desperate to cut into the 3-0 deficit, Amherst pressured hard in the second half of the period. After Dougherty snuffed out several Jeff attempts with a series of strong saves, Amherst finally broke through with just under three minutes remaining in the frame. Kevin Ryder '16 set up in the left circle for a hard wrist shot and while Dougherty deflected the initial tip-in attempt from Topher Flanagan '16, the rebound flew to Safstrom at close range and the junior put it away in the lower right corner.
Going on the power play shortly after the goal, the Jeffs brought the crowd back to life as Deutsch cut the Eph lead to 3-2 just 36 seconds before the intermission. With Williams clearing the puck for a line change, Corey dropped it to Deutsch and the sophomore defenseman carried it all the way, collecting the quick rebound after Dougherty stopped his first attempt and sneaking a backhander in from the right post.
Amherst killed a Williams power play early in the third, but the Ephs continued to pressure and regained a two-goal lead at the 8:28 mark of the frame. Carrying the puck up the right side, Kitto flew in toward the net and delivered a clean pass to Massuci, who was well-positioned at the left post for the one-time finish.
Williams protected its lead the rest of the way, killing a final Amherst power play as Dougherty made several more strong saves down the stretch. The Eph netminder proved the difference, nullifying a 37-16 Jeff shot advantage. Corey finished with 12 stops for Amherst.
The Jeffs will be back in action tomorrow, hosting Middlebury in a 3 p.m. Senior Day contest.
