NESCAC Semifinals

#6 Amherst      4
#2 Middlebury  2

Conor Brown and
Amherst had plenty to
celebrate on Sat.

Box Score   Recap 

In 23 games to start his collegiate career, Amherst freshman John Festa had scored a grand total of zero goals. He picked a helluva time to not only score his first college tally, but to notch his first career multi-goal game. The first year from Lynnfield, MA bookended the scoring for the Purple and White, including an empty netter to seal Amherst's third straight trip to the NESCAC title game. The win also makes Amherst the first six seed to make the NESCAC finals since Trinity won the 2008 finals over second seed Middlebury in double OT.

The Panthers certainly had their chances in this one and officially outshot Amherst 28-24 but were unable to crack Conor Girard until the third period when the Purple and White had already amassed a three goal lead. Air Force transfer Girard got the start in net over Dave Cunningham, though that certainly does not preclude Cunningham from getting the nod in the finals. On the other end, reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Liam Moorfield-Yee was unable to match his Quarterfinals performance against Hamilton. The Panthers have now failed to make the NESCAC final for four straight years and five of the last six (2011-2016) with the lone finals appearance coming in a loss to Amherst in 2012. Middlebury went to the first eleven NESCAC conference playoff finals (2000-2011), winning eight titles in that stretch.


#8 Tufts     3
#2 Trinity  5
Box Score    Recap

Mike Hawkrigg and
his teammates are
finally going to
the CAC finals

Tufts scored two extra attacker goals late to make it interesting, but the Jumbos were unable to overcome a 3-0 to deficit to upset Trinity in a second straight NESCAC playoffs. Tufts was outshot 47-28 and in a bit of a surprise, University of Maine transfer Nik Nugnes was the one getting bombard with Bantam blasts instead of Mason Pulde, who had manned the pipes for the last two NESCAC Quarterfinal shockers for the Jumbos. Nugnes was significant time this year, but a betting man or woman would have put money on first year head coach Pat Norton going back to Pulde in this one.

On the other end of the ice, Alex Morin got his second straight start in net in the playoffs over senior and reigning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Nate Heilbron. Trinity's well balanced offense was on display with five different Jumbos scoring including both of the Cole brothers. This marks the first trip to the NESCAC finals during Matt Greason's coaching tenure in Hartford and the first trip to the finals since the aforementioned title they won in double OT in 2008.