Williamstown, Mass. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams fell short in its return to action after a 27-day layoff, dropping a 3-2 decision against the Williams College Ephs in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's ice hockey action this evening.  Trinity drops to 3-2-4 overall and 1-2-2 in the NESCAC while extending its winless streak to three games (0-1-2).  Williams improves to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the league.  The teams will complete a two-game series tomorrow at 3 p.m.

The Bantams controlled the flow of the game in the first half of the opening frame, beginning with an offensive opportunity 30 seconds into the contest that was denied by Eph backstop Rachel Nguyen (Hermosa Beach, Calif.).  With 1:26 left before the first intermission, Abby Belcrest's (Harrison Township, Mich.) found Haena Lee (Bethesda, Md.) in front of the goal, and Lee, who was skating through the slot, found the back of the net for a 1-0 Wiliams advantage.  The Williams scoring again at the buzzer to send the home team into the locker room with a two-goal advantage.  Hadley DesMeules (North Pomfret, Vt.) took a slap shot from the left side, which Andree Heller (Toronto, Ontario) deflected past Trinity junior goalie Alexa Pujol (New Canaan, Conn.).  After Trinity killed off an early Williams power play in the second period, Michaela Levine (Lititz, Pa.) scored 5:34 into the stanza for a 3-0 Williams lead.

Trinity registered its first goal of the night with 2:57 remaining when sophomore forward Lucy Robinson (Toronto, Ontario) beat a Williams defender and tipped the puck past Nguyen.  Robinson was aided by junior teammates Emily Kleidon (Oakdale, Minn.) and Whitney Colbert (Ithaca, N.Y.).  Trinity struck once again on a power play with 18 seconds to go, as senior captain defender Britney Ryan (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and classmate Rebecca Rosen (Syosset, N.Y.) assisted rookie forward Brooke Heron (South Salem, N.Y.) on her first career tally.  Time ran out, and Nguyen finishedwith 28 saves, while Pujol recorded 15 stops.

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