Thursday February 28, 2013

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Bill Kangas’s Williams College men’s ice hockey team (16-6-3), seeded second in the NESCAC Tournament and ranked 10th nationally, will take on third seeded Trinity College (15-6-3) at 1 p.m. March 2 in the Sidney J. Watson Arena on the campus of Bowdoin College.

Bowdoin College (20-3-2) is the top seeded team in the NESCAC Tournament and the host Polar Bears will meet fifth seeded Middlebury College (13-10-2) at 4 p.m. in Saturday’s other semifinal contest. Bowdoin is currently ranked fifth nationally.

Saturday’s winners will meet at Bowdoin on Sunday at 2 p.m. to determine the NESCAC champion and the conference’s representative to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Williams punched its ticket to the semifinals when they edged Colby College 2-1 Saturday on goals from Nick Anderson and Craig Kitto. Kitto assisted on the Anderson goal.

Eph goalie Sean Dougherty was called on to make 27 saves versus Colby to boost the Ephs into the semifinals.

During the regular season the Ephs tied Trinity 1-1 on the road and lost to the Bantams at home 3-1.

Trinity advanced to the semifinals when they came from two goals behind in the final seven minutes and sixteen seconds of the third period to tie Wesleyan 4-4, before getting the fifth and deciding goal in the first overtime session.

Williams will enter the semifinal contest having won

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their last three games, while the Bantams are 2-1.

The Ephs’ Sean Dougherty leads NESCAC in goals against average with 1.98, while Trinity netminder Benjamin Coulthard leads the conference in saves (660) and with a .936 save percentage. Dougherty is second in NESCAC in save percentage at .933.

The Ephs lead NESCAC in fewest goals allowed per game at 2.0, while the Bantams are nearly as stingy allowing just 2.17. Trinity averages 3.38 goals scored a game, while Williams has netted 3.04.

Eph sophomore forward Peter Mistretta has netted 14 goals this season and the Bantams’ Chris Menard has tallied 13, with seven of his goals coming while Trinity was on the power play.

For advance ticket sales, enter Lasell Gym lobby from the Spring Street entrance, Wednesday, Feb. 27 and Thursday, Feb. 28., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.