CLINTON, N.Y. – Williams College's Brady Welsch tallied three points via one goal and two assists in the Ephs' 4-3 win against the Hamilton College Continentals inside Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink on Friday evening, Feb. 20.
Season Update
- Second-ranked Hamilton (18-3-2, 14-2-1 NESCAC) suffered its first loss at home this season. The Continentals had won their last three games heading into Friday.
- Williams (9-12-2, 8-9-0) has won four of its last five conference games.
How It Happened
- The two sides combined for five goals in the second period. Welsch assisted Jackson Krill on a 2-on-0 breakaway with 11:14 left in the second period that gave the Ephs a 3-0 advantage.
- Less than three minutes later, Justin Biraben '27 shielded the puck near the left boards and dropped a pass to Devon de Vries '27. De Vries skated behind the goal and sent the puck to Michael Gallary '28 who fired a one-time shot into the top left corner of the net to make it 3-1.
- The Continentals cut their deficit to one 15:34 into the period. Biraben received the puck near the left boards and passed to Noah Leibl '27 at the goal line. Facing the boards, Leibl dished a backhand pass between three defenders to Ryan Sordillo '27 at the low slot. Sordillo deftly received the pass with his right skate, avoided the goalkeeper and knocked the puck across the goal line.
- Williams extended its lead to 4-2 with 1:30 left in the period immediately following a Hamilton power play. Jake McManus corralled a loose puck near the red line and dropped off a pass to Welsch who placed a shot in the top right corner of the goal.
- Hamilton recorded the first five shots on goal in the third period. The Continentals began a power play with 11:01 left in the period. Ben Zimmerman '26 fired a shot on goal with just over 10 minutes remaining that was saved by Williams' Harrison Fogel. Williams was called for another two-minute penalty with 9:40 remaining, leading to a 5-on-3 opportunity for the Continentals. Hamilton took advantage immediately following the ensuing faceoff. Zimmerman sent a pass towards the goal line for Leibl, who quickly slid the puck across the face of goal to Biraben who put away his seventh goal of the season with 9:32 remaining.
- Hamilton began its seventh power play of the contest with 1:23 remaining. The Continentals worked the puck around their offensive zone and created a flurry of chances in the final minute, but were unable to find the equalizer.
- Hamilton recorded 12 shots on goal in the first period, but Williams grabbed a 1-0 lead 3:32 into the period as William Yee finished off a pass from Gates Omicioli just after the conclusion of an Ephs power play. Williams doubled its lead with a power play goal 6:26 into the second period.
Notes
- Biraben registered one goal and two assists for his second career game with at least three points.
- Leibl provided two assists.
- Sordillo recorded his sixth goal of the season. The junior was +2 against the Ephs, and holds a +15 plus/minus rating on the year.
- De Vries recorded his NESCAC-leading 21st assist of the season.
- John Wojciechowski '28 blocked a game-high three shots.
- Aksel Reid '27 recorded 17 saves for the Continentals.
- Hamilton allowed just its sixth power play goal of the season. Hamilton leads the NESCAC in penalty-killing percentage at .952, as well as power play goals with 24. Williams ranks second in the NESCAC in power play goals with 19.
Next Game
Hamilton hosts Middlebury College (12-8-3, 8-7-2) in its regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
