The William Smith College ice hockey team was edged by seventh-ranked Norwich 3-2 in a hard-fought New England Hockey Conference contest at Kreitzberg Arena this evening. The Cadets earned the extra point thanks to Morgan Tefft’s game-winning goal 20 seconds into the overtime period.
Tefft redirected a pass from Julia Masotta past Erin Murray for her third goal of the season. Masotta carried the puck over the William Smith blue line and drew a defender to her. She fired a centering pass to a streaking Tefft who got a step on her defender and then dove to a full extension to deflect the puck into the bottom right corner of the net.
Mackenzie O’Neil led the way for William Smith (3-11-1, 2-6-1) with a goal and an assist. Erin Murray started in goal and made 34 saves.
Tefft scored twice in the victory for Norwich (8-3-0, 7-0-0). Mikah Baptiste (1g, 1a) and Masotta (2a) also had multi-point games for the Cadets. Leocadia Clark started in goal and made 20 saves.
Tefft opened the scoring at the 2:59 mark of the first period. She capitalized on a rebound off a shot from Baptiste. Masotta notched the secondary assist on the goal. William Smith tied the game nine minutes later. O’Neil fired a shot from a tight angle off of Clark’s skate and into the back of the net. Emily Martino was credited with an assist on the goal.
The Cadets took a 2-1 lead at the 14:11 mark of the second period. Baptiste was awarded a penalty shot and slipped her attempt just past the left pad of Murray. The Herons nearly tied the game with 12 seconds remaining in the second period, but Taylor Ettore fired a shot off of the goal post.
William Smith tied the game at the 7:17 mark of the third period on Lauren Legler’s first collegiate goal. O’Neil was credited with an assist on the goal. O’Neil stripped the puck away from a Norwich defender and fired a shot off of Legler’s stick and into the back of the net.
Norwich finished the game with a 36-22 edge in shots on goal. Neither team scored on the power play. William Smith was 0-for-3 with the extra skater and the Cadets were 0-for-5. The Herons killed off a 5-on-3 in the second period.
William Smith is scheduled to return to the ice next Friday, Jan. 14, when it takes on Salem State.
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