WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's ice hockey team picked up their first win of the season, taking down host Williams College 5-2 on Saturday afternoon from Lansing Chapman Rink. With the win, Conn improves to 1-4 on the year and 1-3 in conference play, while Williams falls to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in NESCAC play.
For the second straight day Conn (1-4, 1-3) opened the scoring within the first minute. Andrew Eberling (Mount Laurel, N.J.) collected a loose puck in the slot, getting the shot past Harrison Fogel, as Quinn Kennedy (Silver Spring, Md.) and John Russo (South Windsor, Conn.) 57 seconds in to give the Camels a 1-0 lead. Seven and a half minutes later the lead doubled. Eberling and Kennedy once again teamed up, this time both picking up assists, as Sean Detloff (Harrison Township, Mich.) fired a shot from the point that got through Fogel, making it 2-0 Conn at 8:32.
The Camels continued their strong play in the first period, as this time Russo found the net, with Reid Shafer (Coppell, Texas) and Eberling notching the assists. Shafer's initial shot was stopped by Fogel, but Russo followed it up, extending the lead to 3-0 at 16:05. Williams (1-5, 1-3) got on the board in the final minute on a goal from Sean Clarke, as Conn led 3-1 after one.
The teams traded shots for the first half of the period, before Williams cut into the lead at 10:18. Jonah Gold found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 3-2. Again both teams had chances, but Cal Sundquist and Camels goaltender Will McEvoy (Ottawa, Ontario) stayed sharp in net. Neither team scored as Conn led 3-2 heading to the third.
The Ephs started fast in the third period, hitting the post and forcing a save from McEvoy within the first 15 seconds. However, 2:30 into the final frame, Conn picked up a crucial insurance marker. Kennedy extended the lead to 4-2 as Eberling and Kareem Alazem (McLean, Va.) picked up the assists. Williams pushed looking to get back into the game and pulled the goalie with just under two minutes remaining. With time running down, Rocco Testa-Basi (Holland Patent, N.Y.) iced the game with an empty net goal, as Kennedy earned the assist. With the final goal, the Camels came away with the 5-2 victory, their first over Williams since 2018.
Williams outshot Conn 34-21, while winning 40 of 72 face-offs.
McEvoy earned his first collegiate win, stopping 32 of 34 shots. Eberling and Kennedy were fantastic, as both recorded four points on one goal and three assists to pace the Camels. Russo added one goal and one assist, while four others notched one point. Russo led Conn in dot, winning 12 of 23 draws, while going 3-4 on the penalty kill and 0-4 on the man advantage.
Fogel got the start in goal, stopping six of nine shots, before being replaced by Sundquist after the third Conn goal, who stopped 10 of 11. Gold and Clarke both tallied a goal, while four other Ephs picked up assists. Williams went 4-4 on the penalty kill and 1-4 on the power play.
Conn wraps up their three-game road trip on Tuesday night, as the Camels travel to Purchase, N.Y. to take on Manhattanville at 7:00 p.m.
