Rapid Reaction 2/14/14

Colby 10-8-3 (7-7-1 NESCAC)         2
Wesleyan 11-8-2 (6-8-1 NESCAC)   5
FINAL

Wesleyan had three goals in less than a minute in the later stages of the 2nd period to break open a 1-1 tie. The three goal meltdown led to Colby starter Sam Parker being pulled in favor of freshman Ben Csiernik. With Bowdoin's loss to Trinity, the Pine Tree State rivals are still tied for the fourth and final playoff spot. It's the third straight win for Wesleyan, who leap frogs Conn for the seventh spot for the time being and the Cardinals now sit just two points out of a tie for the fourth spot.

Trinity 17-4-0 (12-3-0 NESCAC)  5
Bowdoin 12-7-2 (7-7-1 NESCAC)  4  OT

After sloppy play from Bowdoin in their own d zone, freshman Sean Orlando scored his team leading 17th goal just 24 seconds in the OT period. The win puts Trinity two points ahead of Amherst for the first spot, but they have played an extra game than the Lord Jeffs, who open their weekend of play against Conn College tomorrow.  For Bowdoin, they remain tied with Colby for the fourth spot, one point ahead of Middlebury.

Trinity outshot Bowdoin 37-22 as Steve Messina made 32 saves in defeat. Not sure why, but Concannon semifinalist and reigning NESCAC goalie of the year Ben Coulthard was not in net for the Bantams tonight. Sophomore Nathaniel Heilbron made 18 saves for the victory.


Middlebury 8-10-3 (6-7-2 NESCAC)  1
Williams 13-5-3 (9-3-2 NESCAC)      1  OT

No love loss on Valentine's day in this one as there was plenty of chippiness after whistles on the front end of a home-and-home for these NESCAC travel partners. The game was scoreless after two periods before Middlebury popped in a bit of a soft goal past Sean Dougherty to lead off the scoring in the third. The Ephs asnwered back shortly after to conclude the scoring for the evening. Liam Moorfield-Yee earned the tie in his fifth straight start in net for the Panthers.

The tie keeps Middlebury in sixth, one point behind the Maine duo in fourth. Williams is now winless in their last three (0-2-1) after entering last weeknd as the number one team in the NESCAC. They are now in third, one point behind Amherst with an extra game played.