Non-Conference Finals 12/5 - 12/12

NESCAC MIH ended in 2014 with Hamilton's 3-3 tie at home against Cortland on Friday night. Earlier on Tuesday, Bowdoin came back from a 1-0 deficit in the third to blowout University of Southern Maine. Last weekend while the rest of the league had conference Wesleyan was swept in the empire state. 

Friday December 12th 
Cortland (5-6-2; 3-5-1 SUNYAC)  3
Hamilton (3-3-2; 2-2-1 NESCAC)  3
Box Score  

Both teams scored two power play goals apiece as Hamilton closed out the 2014 NESCAC MIH calendar with a non-conference tie with the Red Dragons. Neither team played a particularly crisp breed of hockey as Continental freshman Tim Nowacki (G, '18) made 27 saves in his first collegiate minutes and start. Starting goaltender Evan Buitenhuis (G, '18) did not dress again after suffering a concussion in a loss to Utica back on Thanksgiving weekend.

Four Continental goalies have now seen action this year. Nowacki looked solid enough, save a soft third goal to give the Red Dragons the lead  back shortly after the Continentals tied it 13:45 on a one-time goal from Kenny Matheson (F, '16) on a feed from Robbie Murden (F, '17). Hamilton would earn the tie thanks to a Pat Curtis (F, '15) goal on a feed from Murden. Tyler Bruneteau (F, '18) tipped in a Marko Brelih (D, '15) blast from the point in the second period for the first Cont goal.

Hamilton is now 0-1-1 at Sage Rink this season and 0-4-1 in their last five at home dating back to last February. They travel to Boston for two games at the Codfish bowl to kick off 2015 before returning home for nine of their final fourteen games.


Tuesday December 9th 
University of Southern Maine (1-9-0; 0-7-0 ECAC-East)  1
Bowdoin (7-2-1;3-2-1 NESCAC)                                       4
Box Score Recap

Bowdoin scored four third period goals to erase a 1-0 Huskies lead after two periods and stay undefeated in the state of Maine. Bowdoin came back to the Pine Tree State following a surprising 0fer against traditional NESCAC doormats Tufts and Conn College the weekend prior.

Coach Meagher rested several of his seniors including McGinnis/Quinn/Palumbo as Bowdoin rolled to victory in the third on the strength of Chris Fenwick (F, '16)'s first two tallies of the season. USM goalie Kyle Shaprio (G, '18) keptt the Huskies, who were outshot 32-16, in the game in the first two periods before the floodgates opened. Shapiro became so frustrated in the third that he broke his stick after repeated voluntary poundings of his stick against the ice and post after the third Polar Bear tally.

Bowdoin has a long break, as they don't play the first weekend of January like the rest of the 'Cac. They'll return to action against Hamilton/Amherst on January 9th and 10th looking for their first win outside of the state of Maine.


Friday December 5th                                                                Saturday December 6th 
Trinity (5-1-1; 3-0-1 NESCAC)   1                                         Trinity (6-1-1; 3-0-1 NESCAC)    4
Utica (3-5-2; 0-4-1 ECAC-W)     0                                          Hobart (6-4-0; 4-2-0 ECAC-W)     3
Box Score   Recap                                                                    Box Score   Recap 

On Friday night, Trinity ruined Utica's "Teddy Bear Toss" at the Utica Memorial Auditorium with Nathaniel Heilbron (G, '16)'s first career shutout. In nine previous installments of the toss (fans toss teddy bears to donate to charity after UC's first goal), the Pionners had a 7-1-1 record and had always scored first. The only tally came in the first on Sean Orlando (F, '17)'s fifth of the season.

On Saturday, two Elliot Vered (F, '16) goals in the third period lifted the Bantams past Hobart. Freshman goalie Alex Morin (G, '18) stopped 33 of 34 stops for the win. He was replaced for ten minutes in the second by Heilbron, who gave up two of the three Statesman goal, after Morin received a 10 minute game misconduct penalty.

The Bantams return to action the first weekend of January to wrap-up their non-conference schedule against Plytmouth State and Western New England.

Friday December 5th                                                              Saturday December 6th 
Wesleyan (2-5-0; 1-3-0 NESCAC)   1                                     Wesleyan (2-6-0; 1-3-0 NESCAC)  6
Hobart (6-3-0; 4-2-0 ECAC-W)        4                                    Elmira (4-4-2; 2-2-2 ECAC-W)       7
Box Score   Recap                                                                    Box Score  Recap

Wesleyan dropped a pair in upstate New York last weekend, including a shootout in Elmira in which they outshot the Soaring Eagles 51-26. The Cards open 2015 at the Salem State tournament in an opening round game against a Wentworth team that has already lost handily to Bowdoin and Colby.