CLINTON, N.Y. -- Hamilton dropped a 9-8 overtime game to visiting Williams in NESCAC competition Tuesday afternoon at Steuben Field. The Ephs, ranked 10th nationally, rallied from four goals down in the final 16:25 of regulation to force overtime and scored the winning goal with 36 seconds remaining in overtime.
Bridget Malicki scored her second goal of the game with 36 seconds left in the second half of the six-minute overtime. Williams (10-1, 6-1 NESCAC) had won the draw control to start the session, then maintained possession until Malicki’s goal. The Continentals forced a Williams turnover after the Ephs won the ensuing draw but turned the ball over with less than five seconds left.
The Continentals (4-7, 1-7 NESCAC) scored three consecutive second-half goals to take an 8-4 lead, capping the run on a score by Margaret Gabriel 12:15 into the period, before the Ephs started their rally.
Rebecca McGovern had a hand in three of Williams’ four goals that closed out regulation. She scored with 16:25 left, then assisted on Malicki’s first goal just 39 seconds later. After Rebecca Bell scored with 11:40 left, McGovern converted a free-position shot with 4:36 to pull Williams even. The Ephs scored four of their goals on free-position shots, including two by McGovern.
Williams controlled the draw after McGovern’s tying goal but Gabriel forced an Eph turnover and Kathryn Maiorano picked up the ground ball to give Hamilton possession with 3:40 remaining. The Continentals held the ball for more than three minutes before shooting but neither of their shots were on target.
Katie D’Antonio led Hamilton with three goals, including the first of the Continentals’ three consecutive scores to open the game. Ashleigh Stephan and Emily Brodsky (who assisted on Stephan’s goal) added goals to put the hosts up 3-0 6:39 into play. After the Ephs used a 3-1 run to pull to within a goal, Taylor Ryan – who assisted on D’Antonio’s opening goal – scored with 75 seconds left in the half to send Hamilton to intermission with a 5-3 lead.
The Continentals scored on their first six shots, with D’Antonio capping that stretch by converting the first of two free-position attempts 5:50 into the second half, putting Hamilton (4-7, 1-7 NESCAC) up 6-4.
McGovern finished with three goals and an assist. She added game-high totals of four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
Stephanie Gallo added two goals and Grace Wilson caused three turnovers.
Ali Plitch earned the win in goal, stopping a pair of second-half shots.
Kari Koga and Hannah Rubin split time in Hamilton’s net. Koga made two first-half saves and Rubin stopped five shots over the final 36 minutes.
Brodsky finished with a goal and two assists. Lauren Brady led the Continentals with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
