Box Score MALDEN - Senior goalie Noah Klag made 36 saves as the #15 Williams College men's hockey team shut out Tufts 2-0 in NESCAC action Friday night at Valley Forum.
Junior George Hunkele scored one goal and assisted the other as the visiting Ephs improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the league. Tufts, playing its home opener, dropped to 1-3-2 overall and 0-2-1 in the league.
The Jumbos out-shot the Ephs 36-33, but Klag recorded his second career shutout. Williams has given up just five goals in five games to start the 2015-16 season.
After a Williams goal was waved off in the middle of the first period, the Jumbos killed a 5 on 3 Ephs' advantage that lasted 1:45. However, Williams capitalized on the one-man advantage with Hunkele's third goal of the year making it 1-0 at 16:54. Junior James McNamara assisted.
The Ephs would add to their lead with their first short-handed goal of the season in the second period. Junior Tyler Young scored off an assist from Hunkele at 8:02 in what would be the game's final goal. Both Eph goals came from right on the doorstep.
The Jumbos applied more pressure in the third period, when they would outshoot the Ephs 11-7. However, Klug was always on the spot.
When Williams was whistled for too many men on the ice with 3:59 remaining in the third period, the Jumbos pulled goalie Mason Pulde for a 6 on 4 advantage. However, the Ephs prevented them from scoring to put the finishing touches on the shutout. It's their second shutout of the season in NESCAC action including a 1-0 win over Colby on November 22.
Neither team was particularly effective on the power play. Williams scored on its third extra-man opportunity, but ended up 1 for 7. The Jumbos did not capitalize on six power play chances.
Pulde made 31 saves in the Tufts goal, while junior Conal Lynch led the hosts with five shots on net.
Tufts hosts Middlebury tomorrow at 4 in another NESCAC home contest. Williams is at Connecticut College for a 3 pm conference start.
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