Where: Orr Rink Amherst, MA
When: 1 PM 3/7/15
Video/Audio: NSN Sportsnet
Preview: NESCAC Williams Conn College
Regular Season Stats
Overall (Conference Rank) Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 3.08 G/GM (4th) Offense: 3.06 G/GM (4th)
Defense: 2.50 G/GM (5th) Defense: 2.61 G/GM (6th)
Power Play: 24/94 - 25.5% (4th) Power Play: 17/67 -25.4% (4th)
Power Play: 24/94 - 25.5% (4th) Power Play: 17/67 -25.4% (4th)
Penalty Kill: 54/69 - 78.3% (7th) Penalty Kill: 36/47 - 76.6% (8th)
Special Teams Net: +10 (3rd) Special Teams Net: +7 (8th)
Special Teams Net: +10 (3rd) Special Teams Net: +7 (8th)
Overall (Conference Rank) Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 2.75 G/GM (6th) Offense: 2.89 G/GM (5th)
Defense: 2.38 G/GM (4th) Defense: 2.44 G/GM (3rd)
Power Play: 15/93- 16.1% (8th) Power Play: 10/64 - 18.6% (8th)
Penalty Kill: 66/80 - 82.5% (6th) Penalty Kill: 48/59- 81.4% (5th)
Special Teams Net: +3 (6th) Special Teams Net: +1 (5th)
The Lowdown
Both of these teams made it to the semifinals the hard way, winnning 4-3 at home in OT in the quarterfinals. Both relied on solid performances from their netminders with the Ephs' Sean Dougherty (G, '15) stopping 44 Bowdoin shots and the Camels' Tom Conlin (G, '16) making 33 saves on Hamilton.
The teams have never met in the NESCAC playoffs. This is the first trip to the semifinals for Conn College, while it is the fifth straight excursion into the NESCAC Final Four for the Ephs. Williams seniors are the only in the 'CAC that can say they have made it to the semis in each of their four collegiate seasons. What they can't say - or any other Ephs senior class - is that they have won a NESCAC title. The Ephs lost to Bowdoin in their two trips to the finals in 2011 and 2013 (the 2011 Bowdoin win was later vacated however).
In terms of meetings this season, the teams split with each squad winning their respective home game. In November, Williams outplayed Conn College for most of the game, but a terrific effort from Camels goalie Conlin kept the visitors in it. The Camels took a 1-0 lead on an odd-man rush with Greg Liataud (D, '17) beating Dougherty high glove side for the lead. But the Ephs would score two goals from CJ Shugart (F, '18) and David Jarrett (D, '15) , both set up by Ephs leading scorer Craig Kitto (F, '15).
In January, Conlin stopped 30 of 31 shots to power the Camels to their first win over the Ephs since 2007. The losing goalie in that game over half a decade ago? Marc Pulde (G, '10), brother of current Tufts goalie and reigning NESCAC POTW Mason Pulde. Kitto had his tenth of the year in defeat for Williams, while Brian Belisle (F, '17), who tied the quarterfinal against Hamilton in the final minute, had his first goal of the season for the Camels.
As for performance at Orr Rink this season, Williams lost 5-3 to Amherst two weeks ago, while Conn College is the only team to beat Amherst in Amherst this season when they exploded for five period third period goals to down the Jeffs 6-4 in January.
Keys to the Game
These are obvious, but goaltending and getting out in front early. In any single elimination tournament in a sport like hockey, goaltending is always key. Conlin, like his team overall has been streaky this season, but he has earned NESCAC POTW honors twice in the 2014-15 campaign and was named to second team All-NESCAC this week after a four year absence of Camels players from All-Conference honors. After a relative down year, two time All-NESCAC goalie Dougherty showed what he can do last weekend in the quarters. Bottom line: both of these netminders are capable of taking over the game.
As for getting off to a good start, Conn College is only 1-6-0 when losing after one period with that lone victory coming last weekend against Hamilton. Getting out to an early lead would also help the Camels with getting in the head of Dougherty, something he has been susceptible to in his collegiate career.
In the Williams preview for the semis, coach Bill Kangas gave a pretty pat quote about controlling the puck and Conn College being a disciplined team that is strong in all three zones. He also said that it should be a great game, which it should be between two evenly matched opponents. For whatever it's worth, Williams is 7-2 in 1 goal games this season while the Camels are an even 3-3.
Players to watch (other than the goalies)
Craig Kitto (F, '15) The senior from Ashburn, VA provided the OT heroics in the Quarterfinals to get Williams to this weekend. In seven career NESCAC tournament games, Kitto has eight points (3-5-8) and in five career games against the Camels he has seven points (1-6-7).
JC Cangelosi (G, '15) Sticking with the seniors that provided OT heroics last week, Cangelosi has gone from the leading scorer by far in 2013-14 for the Camels to the second leading scorer as the addition of UConn transfer Joe Birmingham (F, '16) has lightened the load for Cangelosi and made everyone on the All-Northfield Mount Hermon line (Cangelosi - Birmingham - Dipretoro) dangerous.
You wanna make it to the NESCAC? Better step up your game. Here's Maylene and the Sons of Disaster from (Joe) Birmingham, Alabama with "Step up (I'm on It)"
The Lowdown
Both of these teams made it to the semifinals the hard way, winnning 4-3 at home in OT in the quarterfinals. Both relied on solid performances from their netminders with the Ephs' Sean Dougherty (G, '15) stopping 44 Bowdoin shots and the Camels' Tom Conlin (G, '16) making 33 saves on Hamilton.
The teams have never met in the NESCAC playoffs. This is the first trip to the semifinals for Conn College, while it is the fifth straight excursion into the NESCAC Final Four for the Ephs. Williams seniors are the only in the 'CAC that can say they have made it to the semis in each of their four collegiate seasons. What they can't say - or any other Ephs senior class - is that they have won a NESCAC title. The Ephs lost to Bowdoin in their two trips to the finals in 2011 and 2013 (the 2011 Bowdoin win was later vacated however).
In terms of meetings this season, the teams split with each squad winning their respective home game. In November, Williams outplayed Conn College for most of the game, but a terrific effort from Camels goalie Conlin kept the visitors in it. The Camels took a 1-0 lead on an odd-man rush with Greg Liataud (D, '17) beating Dougherty high glove side for the lead. But the Ephs would score two goals from CJ Shugart (F, '18) and David Jarrett (D, '15) , both set up by Ephs leading scorer Craig Kitto (F, '15).
In January, Conlin stopped 30 of 31 shots to power the Camels to their first win over the Ephs since 2007. The losing goalie in that game over half a decade ago? Marc Pulde (G, '10), brother of current Tufts goalie and reigning NESCAC POTW Mason Pulde. Kitto had his tenth of the year in defeat for Williams, while Brian Belisle (F, '17), who tied the quarterfinal against Hamilton in the final minute, had his first goal of the season for the Camels.
As for performance at Orr Rink this season, Williams lost 5-3 to Amherst two weeks ago, while Conn College is the only team to beat Amherst in Amherst this season when they exploded for five period third period goals to down the Jeffs 6-4 in January.
Keys to the Game
These are obvious, but goaltending and getting out in front early. In any single elimination tournament in a sport like hockey, goaltending is always key. Conlin, like his team overall has been streaky this season, but he has earned NESCAC POTW honors twice in the 2014-15 campaign and was named to second team All-NESCAC this week after a four year absence of Camels players from All-Conference honors. After a relative down year, two time All-NESCAC goalie Dougherty showed what he can do last weekend in the quarters. Bottom line: both of these netminders are capable of taking over the game.
As for getting off to a good start, Conn College is only 1-6-0 when losing after one period with that lone victory coming last weekend against Hamilton. Getting out to an early lead would also help the Camels with getting in the head of Dougherty, something he has been susceptible to in his collegiate career.
In the Williams preview for the semis, coach Bill Kangas gave a pretty pat quote about controlling the puck and Conn College being a disciplined team that is strong in all three zones. He also said that it should be a great game, which it should be between two evenly matched opponents. For whatever it's worth, Williams is 7-2 in 1 goal games this season while the Camels are an even 3-3.
Players to watch (other than the goalies)
Craig Kitto (F, '15) The senior from Ashburn, VA provided the OT heroics in the Quarterfinals to get Williams to this weekend. In seven career NESCAC tournament games, Kitto has eight points (3-5-8) and in five career games against the Camels he has seven points (1-6-7).
JC Cangelosi (G, '15) Sticking with the seniors that provided OT heroics last week, Cangelosi has gone from the leading scorer by far in 2013-14 for the Camels to the second leading scorer as the addition of UConn transfer Joe Birmingham (F, '16) has lightened the load for Cangelosi and made everyone on the All-Northfield Mount Hermon line (Cangelosi - Birmingham - Dipretoro) dangerous.
You wanna make it to the NESCAC? Better step up your game. Here's Maylene and the Sons of Disaster from (Joe) Birmingham, Alabama with "Step up (I'm on It)"
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