Bowdoin at Hamilton 3 PM Saturday 1/5/13

Who: Bowdoin College Polar Bears at Hamilton College Continentals
Where: Sage Rink Clinton, NY
When: 3 PM Saturday 1/4/13
Video/Audio: Hamilton Athletics 

Records:  Bowdoin (10-0-1; 6-0-1 in NESCAC) 
                Hamilton (3-5-2; 2-4-1 in  NESCAC)

Stats:       Bowdon          Offense - 4.45  GPM (1st in NESCAC)
                                       Defense - 2.18 GPM (4th in NESCAC)
                 Hamilton       Offense - 2.00  GPM ( 10th in NESCAC) 
                                      Defense - 2.50 GPM (5th in NESCAC) 

The Lowdown: It's a long way from New York to Maine

Both teams enter the game with Friday night wins, Hamilton over Colby and Bowdoin over Amherst. Amherst and Hamilton are travel partners out of necessity-Hamilton is the only non-New England team in the NESCAC- but they aren't really close. And it's a day game after a night game for a Polar Bear team that has already logged significant miles this weekend. If Hamilton ever had a chance to a steal a game against the undefeated juggernauts of the hallowed 'CAC, this would be the time.

Key(s) to the game: 
1.Defense? Defense?! We ain't talking about offense...

Pardon the horrible Allen Iverson paraphrasing, but defense is the key if Hamilton wants to eek this one out. Quatrrochi has been impressive in net this season, but even in back to back wins the Continentals have let up 30+ shots on the junior goalie. To beat the most explosive offense in the conference,  the Al Hams are gong to need up the ante on defense.

2. Pace yourself

Bowdoin plays it's home rinks in an olympic sized rink, which allows for more open ice play for a skilled team. Hamilton needs to utilize their smaller home rink to dictate the pace of the game and take it to Bowdoin early. Bowdoin has a +/- of +13 in first periods but that decreases to only +3 in third periods, and Hamilton has negative +/- in the first two periods but a +3 in third periods. If Hamilton can avoid the early KO, they have a chance.

Players to Watch

Bowdoin - Harry Matheson (F, Jr.) Hasn't lit the lamp a ton this season but remains atop the NESCAC scoring charts due to his league leading 10 assists (4-10-14). 

Hamilton - Joe Quattrocchi  (G, Jr.) Even if Hamilton plays defense well, the Continentals will still need Joey Quatts to stand on his head to stop the Bowdoin offensive arsenal.