MALDEN - Junior Craig Kitto scored two goals as the 12th ranked Williams College hockey team remained unbeaten with a 4-1 NESCAC win at Tufts on Saturday afternoon at Valley Forum II.
The Ephs improved to 3-0-1 overall and in NESCAC with the victory. Junior Alex DeBaere added a goal and an assist for the visitors, while junior goalie Sean Dougherty stopped 22 of 23 Tufts shots.
Less than 24 hours after committing 10 penalties and allowing two power play goals in a 4-3 loss to Middlebury on Friday night, Tufts did not commit a penalty this afternoon. There were only two infractions whistled in the game, both on Williams. However, that didn't prevent the Jumbos from dropping to 0-4.
The Ephs skated out to a 2-0 lead on goals at both ends of the first period. Kitto got the puck alone in front of Tufts goalie Ryan Kellenberger and deked to score at 3:34. Then with 5:43 remaining in the period, the Ephs went up 2-0 on Tyler Young's first collegiate goal. Tufts was unable to take advantage of a power play in the middle of the period and Williams posted a 12-8 shots advantage for the first.
DeBaere scored to lift Williams' advantage to 3-0 at 13:57 of the second period off an assist by James McNamara. The Ephs would be called for their second penalty late in the stanza, but the Jumbos couldn't make use of it. Shots were 11-9 Williams in the second.
Tufts showed some life early in the third, with junior Andrew White scoring his second goal of the season 7:53 into the period to cut the gap to 3-1. Freshman Conal Lynch had an assist for his first collegiate point, and junior co-captain and defenseman Blake Edwards also picked up his third assist in four games.
However, Williams stymied any Tufts momentum by responding with a goal just 32 seconds later. Kitto's third of the year was unassisted. Shots for the third were 9-6 Williams.
Freshman goalie Ryan Kellenberger stopped 28 shots for Tufts.
The Jumbos return to action on Tuesday night at Valley Forum against Becker. Williams is off until a week from Sunday when they host Babson.
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