Men's Ice Hockey

NESCAC Quarterfinal: No. 8 Tufts 2, No. 1 Williams 1

Courtesy Williams Sports Information

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The eighth-seeded Tufts men's ice hockey team (10-9-6) defeated top-seeded Williams (18-5-2), 2-1, this afternoon at the Lansing Chapman Rink in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Championship. The Ephs scored the first goal of the game early in the second period, but the Jumbos subsequently scored two unanswered goals to advance to the semifinal round for the second consecutive year as the No. 8 seed.

After a scoreless first period, Williams got off to a quick start in the second period, earning itself a one goal lead one minute into the frame. Immediately following a faceoff in the lower right circle,Michael Lata was able to get the puck to the slot for C.J. Shugart to snipe a shot past Jumbo goalie Mason Pulde. It was Shugart's sixth goal of the season.

At the 11:48 mark, the Jumbos tied the game at 1-1 after a shot from the right point by Sean Kavanagh deflected off a body in front of the net and went bouncing past Eph netminder Michael Pinios. It was Kavanagh's third goal of the season.

Tufts scored its second goal just a little more than a minute later to take a 2-1 lead at 12:53 in the second period. Mike Leary skated past the Williams defensive unit to fire one off from the slot. Pinios made a pad save that rebounded right onto the stick of Keith Campbell, who was able to shoot one past Pinios, for his first goal of the season. Leary and Patrick Lackey were awarded assists on the play.

The Ephs put on the pressure in the third period, as much of the final twenty minutes took place in their offensive zone. Pinios was pulled to get the extra attacker with one minute remaining, but the Jumbo defensive unit stifled any opportunities presented to the Ephs.

At the end of the game, the shot count finished in Williams' favor, 37-23, as Pulde made 36 stops and Pinios finished with 21.

Earlier this season, Williams shut out the Jumbos in both regular-season meetings. The first match-up took place in early December when the Ephs won 2-0 on the road. In the rematch, Williams came out on top, 4-0.

Tufts will travel to Trinity to face the second-seeded Bantams in the NESCAC Men's Ice Hockey Semifinals.