A three-goal first period was the difference maker as the Middlebury men's ice hockey team earned a 4-2 victory on Saturday at Williams. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Ephs grabbed a 1-0 lead with an extra skater at the 2:51 mark. Jack Kennedy rifled a shot from the point that sailed into the right side of the net.
• Middlebury answered 34 seconds later. Dylan Bly's initial bid was stopped by goalie Harrison Fogel's left pad, but bounced out to the front of the crease. Landon Brownlee blitzed to the right post and tucked the puck past the goal line to knot the contest at 1-1.
• Williams nearly retook the lead with 11:39 expired. Kennedy fired a chance that sailed toward the center of the net, but Panther goalie Andrew Heinze read the bid and made the blocker save.
• The visitors took a 2-1 lead at the 12:09 mark. Jackson Morehouse had his initial shot saved, but the puck bounced toward the blue line. Jake Stevens collected and ripped a bid that tucked into the left side of the net.
• Middlebury extended its lead to 3-1 a little three minutes later when Dante Palombo shoveled the puck across the crease and inside the left post.
• Williams had the first bid of the second period with 1:49 expired. Gates Omicioli collected a rebound attempt and fired a backhand that Heinze stuffed.
• The Panthers cashed in at the 11:09 mark, grabbing a 4-1 advantage. Brownlee fired a cross-crease chance that was loose on the right post. John Halverson poked at the puck in the scrum and guided it over the line.
• The hosts cut the lead in half (4-2) with 4:37 remaining in the second. Connor Berg ripped a shot from the left faceoff circle that snuck past Heinze.
• Omicoli nearly trimmed the deficit to one at the 3:57 mark with a cross-crease shot following the faceoff, but Heinze shifted at the right time and made the stop.
• The Ephs peppered Heinze with four chances over 30 seconds beginning at the 8:23 mark, but the netminder denied all four attempts to keep the two-goal advantage.
• Williams pulled Fogel for an extra skater with 2:58 remaining, but could not find the back of the net as the Panthers closed out the 4-2 victory.

NOTES

• Halverson set a career high with two points on a goal and an assist.
• Max Noll logged his first helper as a Panther.
• Heinze tied his collegiate high with 37 saves.
• Middlebury tallied its 83rd victory in the series against Williams.

The Panthers close their non-conference slate on the road against Norwich on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.