BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Williams men's ice hockey team denied Bowdoin a season opening win in a 4-3 comeback on Friday night in Watson Arena.

The Polar Bears start the season at 0-1-0 (0-1-0 NESCAC) while the Ephs open at 1-0-0 (1-0-0 NESCAC).

Game Highlights

• The Ephs controlled play in the opening minutes of action. Peter Cronin denied a pair of back-to-back bids from the visitors two minutes in. Marcus Mollica fired a shot from between the dots that Cronin turned away. Tyler Young quickly collected the rebound and put another shot on net that was also stopped.
• Bowdoin struck first with 5:44 remaining in the first period. Mitch Barrington fed Matt Sullivan at the left point, who skated into the slot and wristed the puck over Michael Pinios glove.
• The Polar Bears doubled their lead with 18 second remaining. Following a turnover in the Ephs defensive zone, Pat Geary tried to tuck the puck inside the left post. Pinios closed the gap to deny Geary, but the first-year wrapped around to the opposite side and tallied his first collegiate goal.
• Williams cut into Bowdoin's lead 1:17 into the second period. Robert Cellini slid the puck to Max Fuld on the right dot. Fuld fired an uncontested shot straight on net, past Cronin.
• Mollica evened the game at 2-2 just under the halfway mark of the second frame. Daniel Doherty carried the puck down the left boards and kicked a centering pass back to Mollica. The sophomore went blocker-side to net the equalizer.
• With 2:52 remaining in the period Geary notched his second goal of the evening with a solo effort just outside the crease. The Ephs quickly tied the game once more by capitalizing on a Polar Bear foible that that allowed David Italiano to put away a puck on the goal line.
• Williams took its first lead of the game with less than nine minutes to play as Mollica netted his second of the day. Taking advantage of traffic in front of the crease, Mollica slid right to left across the goal face and went blocker side top shelf.

By the Numbers

• Williams held a 36-28 edge in shots.
• Both teams went 0-1 on the power play.
• Pinios made 25 stops.
• Cronin had 32 saves.

Up Next

• The Ephs head to Colby for a 3:00 p.m. game tomorrow afternoon.
• The Polar Bears host Middlebury tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.