Conference Roundup 2/7/14

Bowdoin Polar Bears 12-5-2 (7-5-1 NESCAC)     3
Hamilton Continentals 4-11-3 (3-8-2 NESCAC)      2 

It was over when...: Hamilton's Kenny Matheson (F, '16) took a hooking call with 1:46 remaining and the Continentals down 3-2. Hamilton, playing at Sage Rink for the first time since a December 7th win over Middlebury, were unable to pull goalie Zach Arnold (G, '15).

All but one of the five goals in the game occurred in the second period, and all four second period goals were unassisted. Hamilton took a 1-0 lead at 8:16 of the first on Truman Landowski (F, '17)'s fourth goal of the season. Mike DiMare (F, '14) fed the freshman from Appleton, WI on the play for Dimare's team leading 17th assist. Landowski was playing on the Continentals first line due to Hamilton's leading goal scorer, Robbie Murden (F, '17), being held out of the lineup for undisclosed reasons.

The Conts took a 2-0 lead just 34 seconds into the second frame when Evan Haney (F, '14) followed up his shot to beat Bowdoin's Steve Messina (G, '14). Bowdoin would score three unanswered goals in the period, all on special teams, to conclude scoring for the evening. The Polar Bears first got on the board on the power play when Matt Rubinoff (F, '16) scored his eleventh of the season on a wrap around to beat Arnold.

Hamilton's power play was sloppy throughout the night and it lead to the Polar Bears NESCAC and D-III leading tenth short handed goal of the season (Hamilton is second in the 'Cac with five short handed tallies). John McGinnis (F, '15) had his shot from the point put aside by Arnold, but recent Concannon award semifinalist Colin Downey (D/F, '14) put in the rebound at the 8:34 mark for his team leading 15th goal (third short handed goal).

Harry Matheson (F, '14) completed the scoring at 19:04 of the 2nd with a power play slap shot that went past Arnold. Bowdoin went 2/6 on the man advantage for the evening while Hamilton was 0/6. The Continentals are 0 for their last 11 on the power play since going 3-6 against Utica on January 25th.

Hamilton outshot Bowdoin 40-36 as Messina made 38 saves to move to 7-4-0 the season. Arnold, making his first career home start, stopped 33 Polar Bear shots to fall to 0-2-2 on the season and for his college career. Arnold and freshman Charlie Fennell (G, '17) have shared netminding duties since Conts starter Joe Quattrocchi (G, '14) went down in the first period of the last time these two teams met,  a January 10th 7-3 Bowdoin victory in Brunswick.

On the webcasting front, Hamilton sophomores Katie and Sarah were back together broadcasting men's hockey games for the first time in over two months. They have come a long way in their handle of the booth in less than two years, and professional announcer Rob Kennedy, who calls Bowdoin games for NSN, took notice.

Liking the @HamCollSports hockey broadcasters. They're knowledgable and well-prepared. Good stuff.
— Rob Kennedy (@RobKennedy70) February 8, 2014

With Colby's loss to Amherst and Middlebury idle until tomorrow, Bowdoin temporarily moves into sole possession of the fourth seed in the NESCAC. The four/five seed is an important divide, as the fourth seed earns the final home game in the NESCAC quarterfinals.

Player of the game:  Steve Messina (G, '14) The Newton, NJ native made 38 saves and held the Continentals scoreless over the final 39:26 of the game to earn a victory in his only start at Sage Rink in his college career.

Box Score: Bowdoin 3/ Hamilton 2                 Bowdoin Recap


Colby Mules  9-7-3 (6-6-1 NESCAC)                   2
Amherst Lord Jeffs 12-6-1 (10-3-0 NESCAC)   6

It was over when...: Conor Brown (F, '16) put in his eighth goal of the season 26 seconds into the final frame to put the Lord Jeffs up 4-1. The Jeffs would add two more third period goals, including Chris Roll (F,'17)'s first collegiate tally for a season high scoring total for the Jeffs, who temporarily move into a tie for first with Williams, though the Ephs have played one less game.

The only two goals for Colby were scored by the Mules two recent Concannon Award semifinalists, Ben Chwick (F, '14) and Nick Lanza (F, '14). For Amherst, three players scored their eighth goal of the season to end the night tied for the team lead in goals: Brown, Andrew Kurlandski (F, '14) and Brendan Burke (F, '16).

Colby was 1/3 on the power play while Amherst went 2/6. Dave Cunningham (G, '16) made 24 saves to improve to 10-6-0, while Sam Parker (G, '15) had an off night, letting in six of the 30 Lord Jeff shots to fall to 8-7-2.  It is the first time Parker has let up more than five goals in 30 career collegiate appearances.

Colby's Ben Csiernik (G, '14), not dressed for the game and presumably watching the webcast, saw the accolades being heaped upon the Hamilton announcers and did not want us to forget the dulcit Australian tones of fifth year JeffCast announcer Hugh Campbell.

@nescachockey are you listening to the Colby/Amherst webcast? Lord Jeff's announcer absolutely on fire.
— Ben Csiernik (@Bcsiernik) February 8, 2014

Player of the game: Andrew Kurlandski (F, '14) The senior from Kirkwood, MO scored a goal and added two assists for a three point night (1-2-3) that left him in a four way tie for the team lead in points with 13.

Box Score: Colby 2/Amherst 6             Amherst Recap 



Conn College Camels 6-12-1 (5-8-0 NESCAC)    3
Tufts Jumbos 3-16-0 (1-12-0 NESCAC)                 1

It was over when...: Greg Liautaud (D, '17) scored his first collegiate goal at 16:22 of the third, unassisted, to give the Camels some insurance and move them into sole possession of seventh place in the NESCAC. Conn College is now 4-2 in their last sixth and might be this year's Colby, who got hot last year and moved from last place to the seventh seed in the last month. The Camels look poised to end their four year drought from the NESCAC playoffs. 

Both teams went 1/5 on the power play and shots were fairly even with Conn College holding the slight edge at 35-34. Mike Petchonka (G, '14) made 33 saves to improve to 5-6-1, while Tufts senior Greg Jenkins made 32 saves to fall to 1-5-0. The Jumbos are still looking for their first win at Malden Valley Forum this season as they are 0-9-0 at home. 

Player of the game: Mike Petchonka (G, '14) Much of the Camels turnaround recently has been thanks to Petchnonka's improved play. The senior from Ridgefield, CT has given up one goal in each of his last four starts. 

Box Score: Conn College 3/Tufts 1     Conn College Recap    Tufts Recap