Sophomore Tarasai Karega netted the game-winner in overtime to lift Amherst past Williams, 5-4

Amherst Takes Care of Williams in Overtime, 5-4

By Ryan O'Donnell '08

February 10, 2007

AMHERST, MA – Sophomore Tarasai Karega (Detroit, MI) scored 1:11 into overtime to lift the Amherst College women’s hockey team past rival Williams College 5-4. The senior class could not have asked for a much better day, not only for them, but for the entire program. In front of a huge crowd including many past players, the Amherst fan base witnessed the program’s first ever victory over the Ephs, moving the Jeffs to 14-5-3 on the season and 9-3-3 in conference play. The loss drops Williams to 6-12-4 (3-7-4 NESCAC).

Williams grabbed the lead six minutes into the second stanza, breaking a scoreless tie when Abby Taylor scored on a power play. The goal woke up the Jeffs and on the very next shift sophomore forward Lindsey Harrington (Westford, MA) made an amazing play, taking her player all the way to the side of the net and getting off a shot that rebounded to the slot where linemate Anna MacLean (Edina, MN) slid the puck into the open goal.

The Jeffs seized control one minute later when junior forward Elizabeth Ditmore (Excelsior, MN) sent a harmless shot from just outside the blue line before heading to change lines. Williams’ netminder Denise McCulloch misplayed the puck and deflected it into her net much to the surprise of Ditmore.

Williams battled back at the 11-minute mark when Taylor tucked home a wrist-shot for her second goal of the contest. The back-and-forth period continued with five minutes to play when Williams snagged the lead on the power play off a wraparound from Joey Lye. Amherst seemed to have a little bit of luck on their side and just before the buzzer sounded, rookie defenseman Alyssa Chwick (Rye Brook, NY) took a slap shot from the right side of the blue line that deflected high in the air and traveled over the head of McCulloch sending the Amherst crowd into a frenzy.

The third period was back and forth with a number of great saves from Amherst rookie netminder Krystyn Elek (Summerville, SC) who had another stellar weekend in goal. Amherst’s power-play woes continued in the third period with a number of man-advantage opportunities failing to produce any goals. Senior defenseman Rachel Simon (West Orange, NJ) gave the Jeffs a 4-3 lead at the eight-minute mark when she skillfully deflected Karega’s shot underneath McCulloch. Williams tied the game with just under seven minutes remaining as Torrey Taussig found the net and regulation would end tied at four.

Overtime was all Jeffs as Karega collected a face-off win from the right circle before sliding a shot past McCulloch, igniting a huge pile of elated Jeff players at center ice.

The Jeffs return to action Friday, Feb. 16 when they travel to meet NESCAC foe Connecticut College at 7 p.m.