Conference Roundup: 2/15/13

For a period by period recap of the games, see our Live Scoreboard for February 15th
Trinity Bantams (13-5-3: 10-3-3)        3     
Wesleyan Cardinals (9-10-4; 5-8-4)     2  OT

It was over when...:  Player to watch Jackson Brewer (F, So.) scored a goal 1:36 into OT, just 1:40 seconds after tying it at 2 with 4 seconds left in regulation, to win the game for the Bantams. Freshman Jay Matthews (F, Fr.) and player to watch Nick Craven scored in the 2nd period to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Jordan So scored 4:13 into the third to make it 2-1. Shots in favor of Trinity 38-22.  Glen Stowell (G, Sr.) makes 35 saves on senior night in the loss and moves to (4-7-1) on the year. Ben Coulthard makes 20 saves in the win and moves to (10-5-3).

Trinity moves past Amherst into fourth place and keeps alive their slim hopes for the first overall seed in the NESCAC playoffs. If Bowdoin doesn't lose to Conn College on Saturday, the Bantams still control their own destiny for the two seed with wins over Wesleyan in the second half of the home and home on Saturday and a win over the Polar Bears (who would then have nothing to play for) in the Nemo rescheduled Monday night game on 2/18.

Player of the game: Jackson Brewer (F, So.) for his game tying goal with 4 seconds left and his subsequent game winning goal in OT. Not a bad way to follow up a hat trick (3-1-4) against Colby that netted him NESCAC Player of the Week honors.

Box Score: Trinity 3/Wesleyan 2                          Trinity Recap

Conn. College Camels (7-13-3; 3-11-3)    1             
Colby Mules (6-14-3; 4-11-2)                  2

 It was over when...: Jonathon Sdao (D/F, Fr.)  scored with 1:02 left in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Camels took the lead on a goal by Keith Veronesi (F, Jr.) in the first, and the Mules tied it in the second on a Ray Zeek (F, So.) goal. Sam Parker (G, So.) made 36 saves for the win and moves to (5-3-0) on the year. Tom Conlin (G, Fr.) mades 25 saves in the loss to fall to (5-5-0) on the season. 

Colby, just (1-10-1) in the NESCAC and in last place a few weeks ago, has gone 3-1-1 in their last five conference games to move into a tie with Hamilton for seventh place with ten points. Conn College falls into ninth with 9 points and must beat first place Bowdoin to have any shot at a playoff spot. The Mules control their own playoff destiny when they play last place Tufts, who was eliminated from playoff contention tonight.

Player of the game: Sam Parker (G, So.) stood on his head to stop 36 of 37 shots and single handedly keep the Mules in the game.

Box Score: Conn College 1/Colby 2                  Conn College Recap     Colby Recap 



Middlebury Panthers (12-9-2; 11-4-2)      6                     
Hamilton College (6-14-3; 4-11-2)               1

It was over when...: Matt Silcoff (F, Fr.) and Ben Wiggins (D, Jr.) scored goals in the second minute of action and the Panthers never looked back. Freshman Brian Ferrell (F, Fr.) scored the only goal for the Continentals. Mike Peters (G, So.) made his second career start in as many games and made 20 saves in a winning effort to move to a perfect (2-0-0). Conts workhouse Joe Quattrocchi (G, Jr.) made 25 saves in a losing effort and falls to (6-13-3).

The Panthers get to 24 points to keep pace with Williams (who beat Amherst tonight)  to stay tied for second heading into their match-up with now fifth placed Amherst on Saturday.  Middlebury can finish anywhere from second to fifth in the playoff seedings. Hamilton stays in seventh with 10 points but is now tied with Colby heading into their Saturday game against Williams. Hamilton can finish anywhere from 7th to 9th, but would be assured a playoff spot with at least a tie against the Ephs or a Conn College loss at Bowdoin.

Player of the game: Matt Silcoff (F, Fr.) scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season and added a helper (2-1-3) to move into a tie for the team lead in goals and points (11-10-21).

Box Score: Middlebury 6/Hamilton 1               Middlebury Recap          Hamilton Recap        


Williams Ephs (14-6-3; 11-4-2)             4                                 
Amherst Lord Leffs (14-6-3; 10-5-2)        2


It was over when...: Zander Masucci (D, Fr.)  put in a one timer from Craig Kitto (F, So.) to put the Ephs up 4-2 in the third. The Ephs took a 3-0 lead on a short handed goal from Nick Anderson (F, Jr.)  in the first and two early second period gaols from Cody Skinner (F, Sr.)  and a 2nd goal from Anderson. The Lord Jeffs cut the lead to 3-2 with two goals in the final three minutes of the second from Brian Safstrom (F, Jr.) and Aaron Deutsch (D, So.). Joe Concannon semifinalist Sean Dougherty (G, So.) stopped 35 of 37 shots to improve to (12-6-2) on the year. Nathan Corey (G, Sr.) stopped 12 shots in the loss and falls to (10-5-2).

With the win, Williams sweeps the season series with their bitter rival and keeps pace with Middlebury for second. By virtue of their tiebreaker over Amherst, Williams can't fall below fourth and is assured a home playoff game in the first round (quarterfinals) of the NESCAC playoffs. The Ephs finish the regular season against Hamilton Saturday afternoon. The Lord Jeffs host the Panthers Saturday afternoon on Senior Day and can finish anywhere from third to fifth in the final seedings.

Player of the game: Sean Dougherty (G, So) was the difference, stopping 35 of 37 shots and helping the Ephs win despite being outshot 37-16 by Amherst.

Box Score: Williams 4/Amherst 2                  Williams Recap       Amherst recap 


Tufts/Bowdoin recap by Benet Pols

Tufts  Jumbos (7-14-2; 2-13-2)                1                      
Bowdoin Polar Bears (18-2-2; 12-2-2)  6 

It was over when...:  Colin Downey (F/D, Jr.) picked up a rebound and found the inside of the far post on a power play just 1:57 into the third period. Downey had no angle but Tufts over-worked goaltender, Brian Phillips (G, Jr.), was down.  Given the Polar Bear's territorial advantage through the first two periods it should have been over earlier, but Phillips hung tough. Bowdoin outshot the Jumbos 60-28. Steve Messina (G, Jr.) gets the win for the Polar Bears on 27 saves. 

It was hard for Tufts to get their offense uncorked with their leading scorer Kyle Gallegos (F, Jr), in the box twice in the first period and once again early in the second. Gallegos had four minors for the game. Three of Bowdoin's goals came on the power play as they went 3 for 7. The Jumbo's lone goal, from Dom Granato (F, Fr.), also came on the power play,  but they were just 1 for 7 with the extra man.

With the loss, Tufts is eliminated from playoff contention. They finish up their season against Colby on Saturday. Due to Nemo, Bowdoin has two games remaining, but can lock up the first overall seed with a win against ninth place Conn. College on Saturday. 

 Player of the game:  John McGinnis (F, So.)  for his three assists (0-3-3). Connor Quinn (F, So.), probably Bowdoin's most improved player since last season, gets a tip of the hat for his goal and two assists (1-2-3). McGinnis's set-up on Quinn's tally was so pretty it drew an audible moan from the locals. If Quinn hadn't buried the shot he'd have been thinking about it for weeks.

It was enough for the six-foot-six Brian Phillips too. The rangy Tufts goalie was relieved after 43 saves and six goals against. Derek Metcalfe (G, Fr.) played the last ten minutes and was tested promptly and frequently, making 11 saves in the remaining ten minutes, one of them pure theft. 

Phillips frustration was obvious. With Bowdoin's Gabe Renaud (D, Fr.) in the box for interference at 6:52 of the third, Bowdoin carried the play throughout the Tufts power play getting several quality opportunities. Phillips' barking could be heard throughout his end of Sid Watson Arena.

Box Score: Tufts 1/Bowdoin 6                     Bowdoin Recap          Tufts Recap