The Williams College Ephs scored three goals in the first period and went on to post a 4-3 NESCAC victory over the Hamilton College Continentals at Russell Sage Rink on Saturday night.

Hamilton (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC) was guided by Andrea Rockey '19 and Jess Haviland '21 who both recorded one goal and one assist. Michaela Giuttari '20 picked up her first goal of the season, and Emily Walther '21, Taegan Blackwell '19, Kelli Mackey '20 and Nancy Loh '22 all dished out assists for the Continentals.

Williams (1-0, 1-0) jumped out to an early one goal lead when Annie Rush raced into Hamilton's zone, passed over to Meghan Halloran, Halloran backhanded a pass to Abby Brustad and Brustad snapped a shot into the upper-right corner of the goal at 4:22. The Ephs followed with an unassisted goal from Brynn Puppe at 9:23, but Rockey responded at 18:06 to put Hamilton on the scoreboard during a five-on-three power play opportunity.

Hamilton maneuvered the puck around the outskirts of the offensive zone, trying to find an open look, as Blackwell passed across the ice to Mackey at the right point and Mackey ripped a pass through the slot to Rockey at the back door and the senior captain one-timed the puck underneath the leg of the outstretched Marissa Anderson (32 saves). Avery Dunn won the following faceoff for Williams and Halloran managed to deke through the defenders and poke the puck between the legs of Sidney Molnar '22 (21 saves) to give the guests a 3-1 edge heading into the first intermission.

Molnar, making her first collegiate start, settled in between the pipes during the second stanza. The first-year goaltender stopped all eight shots fired her way, allowing the Buff and Blue to attempt a comeback and Giuttari delivered with 2:32 left in the period. Haviland won the battle on the boards in front of Hamilton's bench and delivered a cross-ice pass to Walther at the red line. Walther skated into Williams' zone, took a tight turn around a defender for an open look on goal and Giuttari redirected the shot inside the near post.

Hamilton was on fire to start the final period, peppering seven shots on goal in the first two minutes before Haviland, a sophomore transfer from Division I Union College, found the back of the net for the first time in her collegiate career with a power play goal at 2:03. Haviland started it all when she won the faceoff to the left of Williams' goalie. Rockey fired a shot on goal from the left circle, Loh was there for a rebound attempt and Haviland punched the puck across the goal line to finish the job.

The Ephs' Annie Rush scored the game-winner at 10:09 with help from Puppe and Mia Carroll. With 1:48 remaining in regulation and Hamilton on the power play, head coach Emily McNamara brought Molnar to the bench to gain a two-skater advantage but the Ephs fended off the Continental attack for the win.

Hamilton and Williams complete the two-game NESCAC series on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Russell Sage Rink.