1. Bowdoin (17-2-1; 11-2-1)
1st in NESCAC - 23 points
This week's record: 1-1-0
This week's record: 1-1-0
The week that was: On Friday night, Bowdoin suffered its second loss of the season, 6-3, at home against Amherst, despite the fact that they outshot the Lord Jeffs 40-24. The game was their first intercollegiate competition in nine days, after a 5-1 victory over Southern Maine on January 22nd. The three blemishes on Bowdoin's record (2 losses and a tie) all have come at home and all in league games. On Saturday, the Polar Bears salvaged the weekend with a 5-2 victory over Hamilton.
The week ahead: Bowdoin travels to Connecticut for games with sixth place Wesleyan (5-6-3; 13 pts.) and fourth place Trinity (8-3-3; 19 pts.). The Cardinals handed the Polar bears their first loss of the season back in January in a 6-5 OT thriller. Depending on how other games play out, Bowdoin could clinch first place in the NESCAC playoffs by the end of the weekend.
2nd in NESCAC - 20 points
This week's record: 2-0-0
This week's record: 2-0-0
The week that was: The Panthers swept the weekend, beating Wesleyan, 6-3, and Trinity,3-2, to move from fourth up to second in the standings. Middlebury now has a four game win streak, all in league games.
The week ahead: Big weekend for the Panthers as they have a home and home with their travel partner, Williams (9-3-2), who they are tied with in the standings. If Middlebury sweeps, they keep alive their slim shots at winning the regular season 'Cac crown.
Player of the week: Derek Pimentel (F, So.) had six points points this weekend(1-5-6), including his four point outing (1-3-4) against the Cardinals on Friday. Despite only scoring six goals this season, the Quebecois assassin (Infinite Jest anyone? ) leads the team with 21 points (5-16-21).
2. Williams (12-5-3; 9-3-2)2nd in NESCAC - 20 points
This week's record 1-1-1
The week that was: Williams remains in second, but barely. Williams traveled to Boston last Monday to beat non-conference foe Wentworth, 1-0, before returning home for weekend conference play. After losing to Trinity, 3-1, on Friday, the Ephs skated to a 0-0 tie with visiting Wesleyan on Saturday. For the week, Williams had 108 shots, but only scored twice.
The week ahead: The Ephs play the big home and home against fellow second placers Middlebury (9-3-2; 20 pts).
Player of the week: Sean Dougherty (G, So.) Despite going 0-1-1 for the weekend, Dougherty only gave up 3 goals on 62 shots for a .951 save percentage.
4. Trinity (11-5-3; 8-3-3)4th in NESCAC - 19 points
This week's record: 1-1-0
The week that was: On Friday night in Williamstown, Trinity put themselves in the drivers seat for second place with a 3-1 season series win over Williams. The Bantams followed it up with a tough 3-2 loss at Middlebury to end up in fourth.
The week ahead: As Middlebury did last week, Trinity is playing their games in special fatigue themed uniforms that will be autctioned off to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. On Friday, they play a ninth place Colby (2-10-2; 6 pts.) team that is arguably coming off their best week of the season. Saturday they face off against first place Bowdoin (11-2-1; 23 pts.), who hasn't lost on the road all year
Player of the week: Benjamin Coulthard (G, Jr.) gave up 4 goals on the weekend, but did so on 74 shots, good enough for a .946 save percentage.
5. Amherst (12-5-3; 8-4-2) The week that was: Amherst beat the best team in the conference on the road and didn't lose this weekend, but they remain in fifth place. On Friday, despite being out shot 40 -24, they handled Bowdoin 6-3. Saturday they traveled to Waterville, where they had a 3-0 lead against ninth place Colby after two periods;the Mules stormed back with three unanswered goals in the third to earn a 3-3 tie.
The week ahead: The Lord Jeffs travel to last place Tufts (1-11-2; 4 pts) on Friday and seventh place Conn College (3-8-3; 9 pts.) on Saturday. These are must have points if Amherst wants a first round home game in the NESCAC playoffs.
Player of the week: Conor Brown (F, Fr.) had two goals in each game, for a total of four for the weekend (4-0-4). Brown's points streak now sits at nine games.
6. Wesleyan (9-8-2; 5-6-3)6th in NESCAC - 13 points
This week's record: 0-1-1
The week that was: On Friday, the Cardinals lost 6-3 in Vermont against Middlebury. Wesleyan traveled to Williams on Saturday, where they earned a hard fought 0-0 tie. Just a week removed from scoring 11 goals at Hamilton, the Cardinals scored only 3 goals the entire weekend, or less than they scored in each of the second and third periods against the Continentals.
The week ahead: After two weeks on the road, Wesleyan returns home for match-ups against first place Bowdoin (11-2-1; 23 pts.) and Colby (2-10-2; 6 pts.)
Player of the week: Nolan Daley (G, Fr.) for his 46 saves against the Eph, earning him the first shutout of his young career.
7. Connecticut College (7-10-3; 3-8-3) 7th in NESCAC - 9 points
This week's record: 2-0-0
The week that was: Conn. College jumped from the outside of the playoff race to firmly in it with a weekend sweep of travel partner Tufts. At home on Friday, the Camels took care of the Jumbos, 5-2, then traveled to Mass. for a 3-2 win on the road on Saturday.
The week ahead: The Camels are at home for the final time this year for games against 8th place Hamilton (3-9-2; 8 pts.) and fifth place Amherst (8-4-2; 18 pts.).
Player of the week: JC Cangelosi (F, So.) had five points on the weekend (2-3-5), including the game winner in the third period on Saturday night.
8. Hamilton (5-12-3; 3-9-2)8th in NESCAC - 8 points
This week's record: 0-2-0
The week that was: Tough weekend for the Continentals, losing to previously last place Colby, 5-1, on Friday night, then losing at Bowdoin 5-2. Hamilton has now lost four in a row (all in conference) and has given up 21 goals in their last three games.
The week ahead: Last regular season weekend on the road for the Continentals, with key match-ups against seventh place Conn College (3-8-3; 9 pts.) and last place Tufts (1-11-2; 4 pts). With tough games at home to close out the season against Williams and Middlebury looming, this is a make or break weekend for Hamilton.
Player of the week: Anthony Ruberto (F, Sr.) Against Bowdoin, Ruberto scored his seventh goal of the year to take the team lead in points (7-6-13).
9. Colby (4-13-3; 2-10-2) 9th in NESCAC - 6 points
This week's record: 1-0-2
The week that was Best week in a long time for the Mules. On Tuesday, they hit the road and scored in the final ten seconds to tie in-state rival University of New England 2-2. At home on Friday, they beat Hamilton,5-1, for their first NESCAC win since December 8th against Tufts. On Saturday, they rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third to tie Amherst.
The week ahead: Mules hit the road for a Connecticut road trip against Trinity (8-3-3; 19 pts.) and Wesleyan (5-6-3; 13 pts.). Tough games, but Colby is still alive in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Player of the week: Ben Chwick (F, Jr.) had a goal in each game, including the late goal to tie UNE, for four points on the week (3-1-4).
10. Tufts (6-12-2; 1-11-2) 10th in NESCAC - 4 points
This week's record: 1-2-0
The week that was: The Jumbos won their last non-conference game of the year, 4-2, in Boston against Suffolk on Tuesday. They were then swept in the home and home against travel partner Conn. College to fall into the basement of the NESCAC.
The week ahead: The Jumbos are at home for the final time this year for games against fifth place Amherst (8-4-2; 18 pts.) and 8th place Hamilton (3-9-2; 8 pts.). It is now or never for the Jumbos playoff hopes.
Player of the week: George Pantazopoulous (F, So.) had his first two goals of the year in the third period against Suffolk, including the tying and winning goals. He then added an assist at home on Saturday for three points for the week (2-1-3).
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