Rapid Reaction and Playoff Scenarios 2/20/16

Amherst 0 Williams 2   

Williams rode a 32 save performance by Michael Pinios and goals by Joe Welch and Roberto Cellini to clinch the Ephs first ever NESCAC regular season crown. The Ephs will face eighth seed Tufts in the Quarterfinals next weekend. More on Amherst scenario below.

Bowdoin 4  Conn College 3

Conn College had nothing to play for except pride and trying to save off a winless season. The Camels fought hard but a Matt Rubinoff goal with 3:13 left lifted the Polar Bears past the Camels for a ten game unbeaten streak and a #3 seed in the NESCAC playoffs. In Terry Meagher's last game in Brunswick, Bowdoin will host either Middlebury or Amherst. 

Trinity 5 Wesleyan 1

The Cole brothers each scored, Alex Morin made 32 saves and the Bantams ruined Cardinals senior goalie Nolan Daley's last start of his collegiate career (his only one this season).  Wesleyan's season is over in the regular season for the second straight season and #2 Trinity will host #7 Colby next week. 

Colby 4  Tufts 1

Colby scored two empty net goals to break open a tight game and steal the seven seed away from Tufts. Both finished with 15 points but the Camels win the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series (1-0-1). 

Hamilton 1  Middlebury 1

All the scoring occured in the 1st, though there was plenty of action in OT including a spearing call in the final 20 seconds. This result leaves us with the scenarios below for the four through six seeds, which will be decided by the Hamilton/Williams and Amherst/Middlebury games on the final day of the regular season tomorrow.

QUARTERFINALS THAT ARE SET:

#7 Colby at #2 Trinity

#8 Tufts at #1 Williams

REMAINING PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: 

Hamilton

Hamilton has the upper hand for the four seed (the fourth and final home Quarterfinal slot) and cannot be the sixth seed. If Hamilton wins or ties at Williams tommorrow, they are the four seed. Even if Hamilton loses, an Amherst/Middlebury tie or Middlebury win would give Hamilton the four seed. 

Amherst

If Amherst and Middlebury tie tomorrow, the Purple and White get the six seed and will travel to #3 Bowdoin. Middlebury and Amherst would finish with the same points, but the Panthers would win the head to head (1-0-1). If Amherst loses tomorrow, they will also get the sixth seed. 

If Amherst wins tomorrow and Hamilton wins or ties, Amherst gets the five seed and will travel to Hamilton for the Quarterfinals. If Amherst wins and Hamilton loses, the Purple and White will get the four seed and will host #5 seed Hamilton, who has not won at Amherst in a long time. The teams would tie in points and record, but Amherst would have a better record (3-3-2) against top 4 teams than Hamilton (3-5-0). 

Middlebury

Middlebury can't get the fourth seed, as even if they win, they would lose the tiebreaker to Hamilton based on number of conference wins.  If they do win, however, they would get the five seed and travel to Hamilton. If Middlebury ties Amherst they would also get the five seed beating out Amherst because of the head-to-head (see above). If Middlebury loses to Amherst, they will be the sixth seed and head to Bowdoin.