7 PM Live Stats
Offense - 2.92 G/GM (38th)
Defense - 1.65 G/GM (2nd)
Power Play - 20.48% (21st)
Penalty Kill - 88.3% (7th)
Penalty Minutes - 7.85/Gm (72nd)
Defense - 2.62 (29th)
Power Play - 25% (6th)
Penalty Kill - 80% (47th)
Penalty Minutes - 12.93/Gm (35th)
Williams and Geneseo faceoff in the NCAA Quartefinals after respective 7-1 home blowouts in the 1st round last Saturday. The Ephs disposed of MASCAC champion Salem State while the ECAC-NE champion Salve Regina Seahawks knelt before the Knights. Geneseo is making their fifth trip to the tournament and second appearance in three years, which includes a trip to the D-III Phrozen Phour in 2014, hosted by Bowdoin at the Androscoggin Bank Colisse in Lewiston, Me. As you are probably well aware, this is the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Ephs, meaning they carry a 1.000 win percentage in NCAA tournie games headed into tonight's affair.
The Ephs got blanked 3-0 by Geneseo earlier this season in Williamstown. As Zander Massuci pointed out in the First Round press conference, that was only the third game of the season for the Ephs. At the same presser, Williams coach Bill Kangas, when asked if his team was different now from then, said that he was and pointed out that they have different lines, much more experience, etc.
NESCAC Player of the Year Massuci was named this week as one of nine finalist for the Sid Watson Award, given to the best player in D-III hockey. Geneseo's junior forward and SUNYAC player of the year Stephen Collins, who scored against the Ephs in November, was also named as a Watson finalist. The Knights scoring is top heavy, with Collins joined by linemate and classmate Trevor hills in scoring 22 goals this season apiece.
The Ephs have a much more scoring by committee approach. with the top-line of Tyler Young, David Itialiano and Roberto Cellini combining for 22 goals this season. The intactness of that line will be in question as Cellini was carted off the ice in the second period of last weekend's blowout vs Salem State. Kangas was not tipping his hand as to whether Cellini would play this week, telling Howard Herman of The Berkshire Eagle that it was a "trainer's decision" earlier this week.
Besides shutting down the top line of Collins-Hill-Marra, staying out of the box will also be a top priority for Kangas krew. The Knights have gone 3-6 on the power play in their last two games, both 7-1 wins, in the SUNYAC title game and the first round.
Last week was the start of Spring Break for Geneseo, but the Knights fans might come back tonight to pack their 2,500+ person rink as they try to get to their second NCAA semis in three years. The Ephs, of course, are bidding for their first ever trip to the coveted final four, which will be held in Lake Placid, NY next weekend.
Both teams lit the lamp on the regular last weekend against weaker opponents. Expect a closer contest this weekend with a trip to Lake Placid. Here's Fountains of Wayne, whose bassist is a Williams alum, with "Little Red Light"
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