Conference Roundup 12/7/13

Williams Ephs (5-0-2; 4-0-2)            1
Amherst Lord Jeffs (6-2-0; 5-1-0)       0 


It was over when...: The buzzer sounded and Williams ended the 2013 segment of the 13-14 season undefeated.  Sean Dougherty (G, '15) had 18 saves in his first shutout of the season. Amherst's Dave Cunningham (G, '16) kept Amherst in the game, saving all but one of the 28 shots he faced.  Cunningham had numerous  impressive saves, including stoning Williams leading scorer Craig Kitto (F, '15) with a sliding pad save on a breakway in the second.

The only goal of the game came at 2:08 of the third period. Matt Doyle (F, '14) redirected a puck that Greg Johnson (D, '16) sent in from the left point. Six minutes later, Topher Flannagan (F, '16), almost tied it on a two-on-one, but his shot clanged off the post. A testament to the Ephs solid defense, the Lord Jeffs could not get a shot off when they pulled Cunningham at the end of the game.


The two teams both sit atop the NESCAC standings headed into the winter break with ten points, but only Williams is undefeated. Amherst's only other loss came last Saturday to nationally ranked Babson, who the Ephs would defeat the next day. Williams has an 89-34-3 all-time series edge over their arch-rival, though Amherst had a six game win-streak from 2009-2012. The Ephs now have a three game win-streak against the Jeffs dating back to December 7, 2012.

The Ephs come out of the break with the Buck Supply Winter Classic hosted by the current number one team in the nation, Plattsburgh. Williams plays Hobart in the first round and then either NESCAC foe Hamilton or host Plattsburgh the next day. They follow it up with the much anticipated matchup with Trinity at Frozen Fenway on January 7th.  Amherst starts off 2014 with Norwich's Northfield Bank Tournament, playing Plymouth State in the first round.

Player of the game: Sean Dougherty (G, '15) Didn't get tested as much as his counterpart, but was still solid as usual and earned his first shutout of the season.

Box score: Williams 1/Amherst 0       Williams Recap    Amherst Recap


Middlebury Panthers (3-3-2; 3-2-1)           3  
Hamilton Continentals (3-3-1; 2-3-1)      4

It was over when...:  Middlebury goalie Liam Moorfield-Yee (G, '16)  needed to come back into the game following the net coming off its moorings just 34 seconds after he left for the extra attacker.  Hamilton kept it in the Middlebury end and Yee was in net when the buzzer sounded for the Continentals win just 42 seconds later.

Moorfield-Yee made 18 saves in his first start of the season after playing seven games his freshman year. The Panther goalie carousel appeared to be turned off early in the season with Mike Peters (G, '15) starting the first six games. But then Peters gave up three goals on seven shots in the first period against Plattsburgh last week, and senior Nick BonDurant (G, '14)  took over, allowing 0 goals in relief. BonDurant started last night against Amherst, giving up three goals on 37 shots in the loss.

The teams traded off-angle goals in the first before a scoreless second that saw eight penalties called. For the day, Hamilton returned to its previously ineffective power play from last year, going 0-8 on the man advantage. Middlebury was 1/5.

Things heated up in the third. Three minutes after Kenny Matheson (F, '16) scored a nice breakaway goal (box score finally updated to reflect it was Matheson) at the 4:17 mark, the sophomore got called for a charging the goalie call when he ran into Moorfield-Yee, who came out dangerously far from his net to play a loose puck. Middlebury squandered the five minute major on an Evan Neugold slashing call 2:40 in. Immediately after coming out of the box for his five minute major, Matheson found Mike DiMare (F, '14) for a breakaway goal to put the Conts up 3-1 at 12:46.

The Panthers wasted no time, scoring just nine seconds after the ensuing faceoff on a Derek Pimentel (F, '15) tally. Freshman Seamus O'Neill (F, '17) made his first collegiate goal count, when he tucked home a loose puck in front of the net at 15:16 for what proved to be the game winner. Panthers captain Robbie Donahoe (D, '14) would answer back less than two minutes later, but it was too late.

Joe Quattrocchi (G, '14) followed up his big 38 save performance in the tie against Williams with 25 saves. Hamilton completes the impressive three point weekend with the aforementioned tie with the Ephs and today's win over Middlebury.  The Panthers drop both games this weekend and combined with last weekend's PrimeLink tournamnet, they are 0-3-1 in the their last four.  Middlebury looked very impressive opening weekend against Bowdoin and Colby, but have not yet showed the "it" factor coach Bill Beaney says they need to compete for a NESCAC crown.  They were also without breakout sophomore Jake Charles (F, '16) for the third straight game.

Hamilton opens up play against current consensus number one Plattsburgh in the opening round of the Buck Supply Classic on January 3rd, while the Panthers play lowly St. Michael's in the opening round of the Middlebury Classic, also on January 3rd.

Player of the game: Mike DiMare (F, '14) Scored a goal and assisted on two others (though the box score doesn't have it right yet) for a game high three points (1-2-3).

Box Score: Hamilton 4/Middlebury 3         Hamilton Recap 


Conn College Camels (1-8-0; 1-5-0)         3   
Colby Mules (4-3-2; 2-3-1)                      4  
OT 

It was over when...: Nick Lanza (F, '14) put it in the net with 1:36 left in the OT period on an assist from Ben Chwick (F, '14) to give Colby the win. Chwick scored two goals himself to lead the contest with three points (2-1-3).

The win keeps Colby tied with Hamilton and Bowdoin in the NESCAC standings while Conn College remains in the cellar. The Mules have now lost three OT games this year and played a fourth last night against Bowdoin, which they won for their first W of the season.

The Mules built up a two goal lead in the first on goals by Jack Bartlett (F, '14) and Chwick. The Camels cut it to 2-1 just 19 seconds into the second frame on Ryan Mowry (F, '17)'s first collegiate goal. Chwick put the Mules up 3-1, but the Camels answered with a goal from last night's OT hero, Keith Veronesi (F, '14). Mike Sinsigalli (F, '14) scored his second of the season at 12:56 to the third to ultimately force OT.

Tom Conlin (G, '16) made 27 saves in the loss, while Sam Parker (G, '15) had 22 saves in the win. Mike Komich and the rest of the officiating staff did not blow their whistles often in this one, as Conn College went 0/1 on the power play and Colby went 0/2.

Colby returns to action on January 2nd against Wentworth in the Salem State Tournament and Conn College next plays at home against SUNY Canton on January 4th.

Player of the game: Ben Chwick (F, '14) Assisted on the goal and added two of his own for a game high three points (2-1-3). Leads the Mules with 13 points (7-6-13) on the season.

Box Score:  Colby 4/Conn College 3 OT


Tufts Jumbos (2-7-0; 1-5-0)                     4 
Bowdoin Polar Bears (5-3-1; 2-3-1)      8

It was over when...:  Bowdoin scored their second short-handed goal of the day at 5:45 into the third period to go up 7-4. The game was tied after one period of play, but the two teams exploded for eight goals in the second. Despite all the penalties, only two power play goals were scored in the game. Bowdoin went 1/6 on the PP while Tufts went 1/7.

Ryan Kellenberger (G, '17) took the loss and gave up eight goals on 44 shots, while Polar Bear senior Steve Messina (G, '14) made 43 saves in victory. The Jumbos have gone the baptism by fire approach with Kellenberger, allowing the freshman to play all but five minutes of the season so far due to an injury to senior Brian Phillips (G, '14). With Max Fenkell  (G, '15) back in net yesterday, Bowdoin returns to their normal goalie rotation.

Bowdoin is the only NESCAC team with a game in 2013 after today. The Polar Bears play inter-state rival University of Southern Maine, who Colby beat earlier this year, on the road on Tuesday, December 10th. Tufts is done until January 4th, when they play Southern New Hampshire in the Bostontastic Codfish Bowl.

More on this game from Benet Pols later.

Player of the game: John McGinnis (F, '15) The junior from Cocoa, FL scored a short-handed goal and assisted on three others for a game high four points (1-3-4). It's the first four point game of his college career.

Box Score: Bowdoin 8/Tufts 4          Bowdoin Recap 

Bowdoin highlights