MALDEN, MA (December 2, 2022) – Williams College goalie Evan Ruschill made 18 of his 31 saves in the third period and the Ephs tacked on two late goals for a 4-1 NESCAC men's hockey victory against Tufts University on Friday evening at Valley Forum.
The visiting Ephs had led 2-0 following a power-play goal by Sean Clarke just 1:19 into the third period. However, Tufts would get a power-play strike of its own from
Joel Brandinger just 1:27 later making it a 2-1 game.
The Jumbos would dominate most of the third period, but Ruschill was sharp as the Ephs held their lead. Williams then scored an empty-net goal by Jonah Gold with 1:01 left in the third, and added a tally from Henry Muller with 35 seconds left for the 4-1 final.
The teams had played evenly in the first period. Both killed power plays and Tufts goalie Gus Bylin had a nice stop on Williams' Mac Caros who had an open look on the left side of the net with just over eight minutes remaining in the period.
Williams would gain an advantage in the second period, outshooting Tufts 12-7 and taking a 1-0 lead. Connor Kucharski made a play at the redline and passed up to David Vieten. Charging into the left circle, Vieten nicely picked the top left corner for the game's first goal at 5:06 of the middle stanza.
Tuft would have a two-man advantage for a 1:51 span late in the second period, but could not capitalize and the Ephs led 1-0 after 40 minutes.
Into the third, the Ephs scored 28 seconds into a power play to lead 2-0. Ben Lawrick sent a shot in from the left point and it was tipped by Nicholas Rashkovsky in front of the net. The puck popped up into the air and Sean Clarke batted it in at 1:19 of the third.
Tufts answered on its own power play. Moving out from the left boards,
Mason Kohn put a shot on goal that deflected right to Brandinger on the right side. He had an empty cage to score into and Tufts was within 2-1 at 2:46 of the third.
The Jumbos would take over the game as the third went on. Among several good saves, Ruschill stopped a shot by Tufts'
Cam Newton from the point that got redirected on its way through traffic. The Jumbos pulled Bylin with 1:54 remaining in regulation, but could not net the equalizer and the Ephs were able to pad their lead.
Williams won its first conference game, improving to 1-2 in the league and 2-3 overall. Tufts fell to 1-5 and 0-3. Bylin finished with 24 stops in the Tufts goal. The Jumbos out-shot the Ephs 32-28.
--JUMBOS--
