Saturday, February 7, 2015

Conference scores 2/6/15

We've entered the NESCAC only portion of the schedule and with the fourth through seventh seeds separated by four points, it will be a knock down drag out fight down the stretch. All games on Friday ended 2-1, for whatever that's worth. 
Amherst (14-3-2; 10-3-0 NESCAC)   2
Colby (5-12-2; 2-9-2 NESCAC)          1
Box Score  Recap 

Amherst got two goals in the second from their leading scorers, David White (F, '18) and Conor Brown (F, '16), and played their brand of defensive hockey down the stretch taking only three shots in the third. Robert McCormick (F, '15) got the Mules back in it with a goal in the third, but the Mules were unable to get the equalizers as they fell for the fifth straight time. In a battle of senior netminders, Danny Vitale (G, '15) made 22 saves in victory while Sam Parker stopped 20 pucks in defeat.

Amherst heads to Bowdoin on Saturday to face a Polar Bear team that the Jeffs beat 4-2 back in Mass. in January. With top seeded Trinity playing third seed Williams, a Jeffs win could give them a little breathing rood at the top spot. For Colby, they host Hamilton, whom the Mules beat 1-0 back in Clinton, NY back in January. A win over the Conts and a Tufts loss to Conn College would pull Colby within a point of a playoff spot.



Hamilton (7-8-4; 5-6-2 NESCAC)   1
Bowdoin (11-5-3; 5-5-3 NESCAC)  2
Box Score  Recap

Second years' Zak Kokosa (F, '17) and Kendall Culbertson (F, '17) both scored and assisted on each other's goals as the Polar Bears domination in the second period (15 to 5 lead in shots) was the deciding factor in this affair.

Hamilton got one back earlier in the third when Conts leading scorer Robbie Murden (F, '17) floated one in on net just inside the blueline. The puck beat an off-gaurd Max Fenkell (G, '15), who disgustedly retrieved the puck from the net. The Continentals had two power plays in the third, but were unable to find the equalizer. The Polar Bears had an aggressive foretcheck on the last penalty kill that kept the puck mostly in the Hamilton zone. Both teams went 0/3 on their man advantage opportunities for the evening.

Fenkell zoned in after letting up the fluke goal to finish with 21 saves in victory. Hamilton's in Buitenhuis (G, '18), who missed significant time earlier in the year due to a concussion, was out with illness of Friday. Tim Nowacki (G, '18) made 25 saves in his place.

On Saturday, Bowdoin hosts Amherst, a time they beat in double OT of last year's conference finals but lost to earlier this season. A win over Amherst would go a long way to help the currently fifth seed Polar Bears in their quest for a home playoff game in the NESCAC quarters. Bowdoin, despite their men in black run to the 'Cac crown last year, would very much like a home game. The Polar Bears are 6-1-1 at Sid Watson Arena and only 0-4-2 outside of Maine this season. For Hamilton, a win over Colby on Saturday would all but clinch a playoff spot, something that eluded them in the 2013-14 campaign. It would also keep them alive in a hunt for a home playoff game headed into the final two weekends.



Wesleyan 2-17-0 (1-12-0 NESCAC)    1
Williams 13-4-2(9-3-1 NESCAC)        2
Box Score  Recap 

Alex DaBaere (F, '15) had two second period goals, including a short handed tally, to give the Ephs the victory and send the Cardinals to their 12th straight loss in conference. The Cardinals lone goal came from Alex Carlacci (F, '16) with Dawson Sprigings (G, '17) pulled for the extra attacker. Sprigings kept the Cardinals in the game with 39 saves as Williams outplayed the cellar dwelling Wesleyan team. Sean Dougherty (G, '15) stopped 16 saves for the victory.

Williams hosts top seed Trinity on Saturday in the marquee matchup of the weekend. A win for the Ephs would keep hopes of their first NESCAC regular season title crown alive. For Wesleyan, a loss at Middlebury on Saturday coupled with a Tufts victory over Conn College would eliminate them from playoff contention with two weekends left on the regular season schedule.




Trinity 16-2-1 (11-1-1 NESCAC)         2
Middlebury  (7-9-3; 4-6-3 NESCAC)   1   OT
Box Score   Recap

Middlebury outshot Trinity 34-15, but the Panthers were only able to beat Nate Heilbron (G, '16) once with 14.3 seconds remaining to force OT. Evan Neugold (F, '16) put in a rebound off a Ronald Fishman (D, '16) shot to send the game to the extra frame. Just a minute into OT, a Mike Flynn (D, '15) shot lead to a Jackson Brewer (F, '15) rebound as the reigning Joe Concannon Award winner's 112th collegiate point sealed the game for the visiting Bantams. Stephen Klein (G, '18) stopped 13 shots in defeat.

The Panthers, who are now tied for eighth in conference scoring with Tufts at 2.15 Goals/Game, look to rebound on Saturday against a lowly Wesleyan team. The Bantams head to Williamstown for a showdown with the Ephs.



Conn College (10-7-2; 7-5-1 NESCAC) 2
Tufts (7-11-1; 4-8-1 NESCAC)               1 
Box Score   Recap

A pair of Joes (Birmingham and Giordano) gave the Camels a 2-0 lead after two and they held on for the 2-1 victory after a third period Tufts goal by Keith Campbell (F, '16). Tom Conlin (G, '16) was a rock in net for Conn College as his 30 saves improved his record to 9-6-2 on the season. Mason Pulde( G, '17) made 25 saves to fall to 5-9-1.

The two teams square off again Saturday night in New London. The Camels currently hold the fourth and final home playoff spot, something they have never accomplished since the NESCAC started conference tournament play in 2000. The Camels have all but clinched a second straight NESCAC playoff appearance, something they have only done once before when the made the playoffs three straight years from 2007-09. Saturday's contest will be Conn's annual Green Dot game to raise awareness about and prevent domestic violence.



2-1? I think I've seen that score before... In honor of all five games ending the same way and my seven year old nephew - who has asked to listen to Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" every time he has been in my car since he was four- here's Iron Maiden's "Deja Vu" 

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