Week in Review 1/15/13 - 1/20/13

1. Bowdoin (15-1-1; 10-1-1)
1st in NESCAC - 21 points
This week's record: 2-0-0

The week that was: After a week that saw them lose their first game, Bowdoin responded with road wins over Williams, 4-1, and Middlebury,3-0, to take a commanding six point lead in the NESCAC. They also own the tiebreaker over second place Williams, having beaten the Ephs in both meetings this season.

The week ahead: Bowdoin returns home for a non conference affair on Tuesday with fellow Pine Tree Staters Southern Maine (6-11-0), and...that's it. Light week for the Polar Bears.

Player of the week: Bowdoin goalies.  Max Fenkell  (G, So.) and Steven Messina  (G, Jr.) combined for 73 saves on 74 shots. 


2. Williams (9-4-2; 7-2-1)
2nd in NESCAC - 15 points
This week's record 1-1-1

The week that was: In non-conference play, Williams tied #14 Babson on Tuesday. The Ephs couldn't muster a win against Bowdoin on Friday, but blew out Colby 9-2 to capture second place outright (Amherst played out of conference).
 
The week ahead: The Ephs travel across state Friday for a match-up with Tufts  (1-7-2; 3 pts.)  and then to CT on Saturday for a game against Conn College (1-6-3; 5 pts.). Williams is a symmetric 2-2-2 on the road this season.

Player of the week: Peter Mistretta (F, So.) had a four point weekend (3-1-4), including the only goal for the Ephs against Bowdoin and his team leading 10th and 11th goals of the year against Colby to extend his goals streak to four games. 


3. Amherst (10-4-2; 6-3-1) 
 3rd in NESCAC - 13 points
This week's record: 1-0-0

The week that was:  Light week for the Lord Jeffs, with only a 4-1 victory over St. Michael's on Saturday. 

The week ahead:  Amherst has a big weekend at home. On Friday, they host a surging Wesleyan (4-4-2; 10 pts.) team; then they have a Saturday showdown with Trinity (5-3-2; 13 pts.) whom they are tied with  in the standings. If Trinity wins, they not only move ahead in the standings but own the tiebreaker, having beaten the Lord Jeffs earlier this season.

Player of the week: First timers. Coach Arena's son  Pat Arena  (F, Fr.)  and Christopher Finch (F, Jr.) scored to break open a 1-1 tie against St. Michael's. 


3. Trinity (8-4-3; 5-2-3)
3rd in NESCAC - 13 points
This week's record: 2-0-0

The week that was:  Trinity rebounded after a weak Maine weekend, for a pair of wins over Tufts and Conn College. With the wins the Bantams move into a tie for third place with Amherst.

The week ahead: The Bantams hit the road for two weeks, facing Hamilton (3-5-2; 8 pts.) and the big matchup with Amherst (6-3-1; 13 pts.) on Saturday.  Trinity hasn't done well in a small sample on the road this season, going 1-2-2. 

Player of the week: Nathaniel Heilbron (G, Fr.) entered the first period of the Tufts game for an injured Benjamin Coulthard  (G, Jr.)  and proceeded to make 36 saves on 39 shots and earn his first two collegiate wins as a goaltender. 


5. Middlebury (6-8-2; 5-3-2)
5th in NESCAC - 12 points
This week's record: 1-1-0

The week that was: Middlebury got back on track, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Colby 5-3 on Friday for only their second win of 2013.  Saturday they suffered a tough 3-0 loss against Bowdoin, despite out shooting the Polar Bears 38-25.

The week ahead:  The Panthers travel south to take on Conn College (1-6-3; 5 pts.) on Friday and Tufts  (1-7-2; 3 pts.) on Saturday.  Important points to pickup if they want to stay in the hunt for a home playoff game in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs.

Player of the week:  Chris Brown (F, Sr.) for his two point night (1-1-2) on Friday, including what turned out to be the game winner on his first goal of the year (1-6-7). 

6.  Wesleyan (8-6-2; 4-4-2)
6th in NESCAC - 10 points
This week's record: 1-0-1

The week that was: Wesleyan followed up their Excellent Maine Adventure with a 7-2 stomping of Conn. College Friday night. Missed an opportunity to inch closer to Middlebury on Saturday, only tying Tufts 2-2.

The week ahead: Cardinals hit the road for two weeks, facing off against Amherst (6-3-1; 13 pts.) and Hamilton (3-5-2; 8 pts.) this week. The Cardinals seem to prefer the road, going only 2-4-2 at home but an impressive 5-2-0 on the road. 

Player of the week: Nick Craven (F, Sr.) had a four point weekend (2-2-4) including the only two goals in the Tufts game. 


7. Hamilton (5-8-3; 3-5-2)
7th in NESCAC - 8 points
This week's record: 1-2-0

The week that was:  Hamilton started out their full SUNY, non-conference slate with a 3-2 loss at  SUNY Cortland on Tuesday. After a forgettable 8-0 slaughtering at the hands of national powerhouse SUNY Oswego on Saturday, the Continentals closed the week with a 3-2 OT win at home against SUNY Potsdam.

The week ahead: Hamilton returns to conference action playing at home against the two CT teams the Continentals scored last minute goals against to force OT back in November.   Up first is Trinity (5-3-2; 13 pts.), whom they beat, on Friday; on Saturday they play a Wesleyan (4-4-2; 10 pts.) team they tied. Hamilton much prefers to be in Clinton, going 4-2-2 on home ice and only 1-6-1 away from Sage Rink. 

Player of the week: Evan Haney (F, Jr.) had a three point effort against Potsdam (2-1-3), including the winning goal in OT that mercifully allowed football fans to go home and watch the AFC Championship game. 


8. Connecticut College (4-8-3; 1-6-3) 
8th in NESCAC - 5 points
This week's record: 1-2-0

The week that was: Conn College led off the week with their first road win of the season at non-conference opponent Curry on Tuesday, defeating the Colonials 5-1. They followed that up with conference road losses to Wesleyan, 7-2, and Trinity, 3-1, over the weekend. 

The week ahead: The Camels return home for the first time since December 8th of last year. They start the week at home against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos, who lost to Tufts earlier this year. The weekend brings tough competition in  Middlebury (5-3-2; 12 pts.) and Williams (7-2-1; 15 pts.). Need to try and get any points they can to stay on the inside of the playoff picture. 

Player of the week:  Stephen Brennan (F, Fr.) had his first collegiate goals, both in the win over Curry.


9. Tufts (4-7-1; 1-7-2)    
9th in NESCAC - 4 points
This week's record: 1-1-1

The week that was: The Jumbos got a big 2-0 win against non-conference Wentworth on Tuesday. Friday saw a 2-2 tie after 2 periods slip away for a 5-2 loss against Trinity. The Jumbos earned a hard fought point in a 2-2 tie against Wesleyan Saturday. 

The week ahead: Tufts is at home for games against Williams (7-2-1; 15 pts.) and Middlebury (5-3-2; 12 pts.).

Player of the week: Andrew White (F, So.) had a three point week (2-1-3). 


10. Colby (3-13-1; 1-10-1) 
10th in NESCAC - 3 points
This week's record: 0-2-0

The week that was: The Mules took an early 2-0 lead at Middlebury, but couldn't hold on, losing 5-3. Saturday they were blown out by Williams 9-2. 

The week ahead: Bye week for the Mules. Return to action Tuesday the 29th. 

Player of the week: Nick Lanza (F, Jr.) had two points (1-1-2) and leads the team with 18 points (10-8-18).