WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's ice hockey team wrapped up its 2019-20 campaign with a 3-2 setback against No. 12 Williams in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The top-seeded Ephs scored three times in the opening period and held off a valiant comeback attempt by the Camels to earn hosting rights for the semifinal and championship rounds of the league's postseason tournament next weekend.

Mac Carso scored off a rebound from an initial shot taken by Nick VanBelle to get the Ephs' offense going just 2:58 into the contest. Will Somers then doubled the margin at 8:14, and the hosts then capitalized on the game's first power play opportunity when VanBelle cleaned up a rebound at the 12:08 mark. Williams carried a 3-0 advantage into the first intermission by holding a commanding 17-6 advantage in total shots through 20 minutes of action.

Connecticut College, however, stormed back and completely turned the tide by outshooting the Ephs by a lopsided 18-6 margin in the second stanza. Sophomore Anthony Quatieri (Peabody, Mass.) fed junior Matt Creamer (Warwick, R.I.), who was streaking down the ice, for the Camels' first tally at 7:09. Less than five minutes later, Colin Stevens (Concord, N.H.) lit the lamp to close the gap to a single goal with 7:59 left to play in the frame. Junior Paul Capozzi (Lake Forest, Ill.), who assisted on Stevens' goal, nearly found the back of the net as well when he had a shot ring off the post, and the teams headed into the second intermission with the Ephs clinging to a 3-2 lead.

The eighth-seeded Camels stayed strong and attempted to knot the score throughout the third period. Williams (17-7-1) nearly went ahead by two goals again during the opening minutes, but senior Connor Rodericks (Buzzards Bay. Mass.) most notably made back-to-back stops off a blistering shot by Carso followed by the ensuing rebound attempt by VanBelle to keep it a one-goal game.

The visitors continued to attack until the final whistle. Senior Jeff Thompson (Shelburne, Vt.) fired a shot from inside the blue line that was snagged by the glove of netminder Cosimo Lazzarino at 6:37, and a wraparound bid by sophomore Steven Senese (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) was kicked aside by the netminder who also stopped a follow-up attempt by freshman Eric Fournier (Lethbridge, Alberta). The Camels pulled Rodericks at the end and sent a barrage of shots at Lazzarimo over the last few minutes, but everything was denied. The hosts clinged to their lead until the final whistle by blocking one last shot in the final seconds to survive and advance to next weekend's semifinal round.

Rodericks made 30 saves in his final game between the posts for Connecticut College. The senior ended his illustrious four years as a collegian with three school records, which included boasting a .929 career save percentage, 2.47 goals against average, and four shutouts. His .939 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average also rank first in the single-season program annals and better his previous school-record marks which were established two years ago.

Connecticut College (11-12-2) graduates eight seniors and is slated to return more than 20 letterwinners next season.