MIDDLETOWN, CT. – For the first time since the 2023 NESCAC quarterfinal round, the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team went head-to-head with Williams College in a Saturday afternoon NESCAC contest that saw Wesleyan fall 5-3 after two late third period goals at Spurrier-Snyder Arena.

Through a chippy first period, the Cardinals (3-7-1 overall, 2-3-1 NESCAC) took the Ephs (3-9-0 overall, 2-6-0 NESCAC) down to the wire in a back-and-forth possession game before the Ephs opened the scoring first with a goal from David Vieten. Keeping their puck possession down in the Cardinals zone, Owen Stadheim sent the puck into the corner as it made its way around the back of the goal to Vieten. Vieten made the pass back to Stadheim in a mass in front of Cardinals goaltender Marc Smith '24 before making his way back around to the right post, shoving the puck under Smith's left pad.

At 12:39 in the second period, Jack Marottolo '26 tied the game up for the Cardinals at one on the power play as the Ephs were called for tripping. Daniel Lurie '26 jumpstarted the play at the blue line, sending the puck down to Ethan Davison '26 at the goal line. Davidson made the cross-ice pass to Marottolo who made the shot on one knee outside of the goal mouth.

Davidson earned another assist, setting up DJ Dixon's '24 goal at 15:52 of the final period to give the Cardinals a one goal lead. Davidson broke up a pass by the Ephs at center ice and brought the puck and the Cardinals back down into the Ephs. Davidson fed the puck out to Dixon who was positioned dead center in front of the goal, his wrist shot sailing up and behind Ephs goaltender Cal Sandquist.

Tying the game up at two, Brady Welsch struck for the Ephs after stuffing the puck in at the left post in the middle of a scuffle in front of Smith. Picking up the second lead of the game for the Cardinals was Danny Judge '26, his first goal of the season. Jack Bosco '26 took an initial shot that was blocked by one of the Ephs and gained his own rebound for a second shot. Judge picked the third Cardinals rebound and managed to flip the puck up and over Sandquist for the goal as Sandquist was already down on the ice.

Connor Fitzpatrick tied the game with the third Ephs goal on a centering pass from Sean Clarke. Fitzpatrick scored the game winner and Logan Valkama sealed the game with a fifth goal.

The Cardinals and the Ephs were near equal from the faceoff circle, the Ephs edging the Cardinals with a 30-29 win differential. Hayden Hanes '27 led with 11 draw wins, Dixon with nine.

In goal for the Cardinals, Smith was good for 30 saves on the afternoon. Sandquist finished with 25 saves.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, Jan. 12, when they travel to Bowdoin College for a 7 p.m. NESCAC contest.