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| Former Amherst goalie turned Purple and White assistant Dave Cunningham ('16) was certainly proud of his team this week. |
Additional Bowdoin reporting from youth writer Seamus McCune (website)
Amherst (3-0-1)
The Purple and White started the week on Tuesday with a 5-1 win (Box) over frequent whipping post, St. Mike's in Vermont. Giancarlo Ventre made 23 saves to earn the win in his first collegiate start while Pat Daly and Thomas Lindstrom scored two goals each.
Saturday brought a big matchup at The Aud against the fourth ranked Utica Pioneers, who lost their first game of the season on Friday night. In a back-and-forth affair through two periods, the Pioneers created some breathing room with two goals in the first half of the third. Amherst rallied with two goals within a minute of each other in the final five minutes to force OT. In the extra frame, frosh Noah Gilreath fired a wrister from the right circle past the glove of the UC goalie for the 6-5 victory. Gilreath, along with fellow frosh PJ Conlon and Stanley Brenner, scored their first college goals while senior Adam Ellison became the third Amherst goalie to start in the first three games of the season.
Things did not get easier the next day as Amherst took on another ranked team (Babson) in the home opener. Coach Arena's charges were up to the task, scoring three goals in the first half of the second period after a scoreless first. Beaver goalie Matt Pompa, who was coming off a 41 save performance against Williams on Saturday, was pulled after giving up the third goal.
The Beavers were able to get one of their 26 shots past Conor Girard, but it wasn't enough as a Will Vosepka empty net tally with 2:26 remaining sealed the 4-1 victory (Box). The Beavers were aggressive with the goallie pull, amassing five and-a-half minutes of extra skater time in the third, including opting for a six on-three skater approach with eight minutes to go on a 5-on-3 power play. Overall, the Purple and White had a medley of scores, including a regular strength goal (Johannson), a power play goal (Lindstrom), a short handed goal (Ho) and the aforementioned empty netter.
On Monday, Amherst reaped the rewards of their big OOC week and entered the national polls (D3hockey.com/USCHO) for the first time since officially dropping their unofficial mascot in January of this year. The Purple and White came in at 11 in the D3H poll and 13 in USCHO as the only NESCAC team to make both polls. On an individual level, freshman Pat Daly's five point week (3-2-5) earned him NESCAC Player of the Week honors.
Amherst heads to the Nutmeg State to take on Wesleyan on Friday.
Saturday brought a big matchup at The Aud against the fourth ranked Utica Pioneers, who lost their first game of the season on Friday night. In a back-and-forth affair through two periods, the Pioneers created some breathing room with two goals in the first half of the third. Amherst rallied with two goals within a minute of each other in the final five minutes to force OT. In the extra frame, frosh Noah Gilreath fired a wrister from the right circle past the glove of the UC goalie for the 6-5 victory. Gilreath, along with fellow frosh PJ Conlon and Stanley Brenner, scored their first college goals while senior Adam Ellison became the third Amherst goalie to start in the first three games of the season.
Things did not get easier the next day as Amherst took on another ranked team (Babson) in the home opener. Coach Arena's charges were up to the task, scoring three goals in the first half of the second period after a scoreless first. Beaver goalie Matt Pompa, who was coming off a 41 save performance against Williams on Saturday, was pulled after giving up the third goal.
The Beavers were able to get one of their 26 shots past Conor Girard, but it wasn't enough as a Will Vosepka empty net tally with 2:26 remaining sealed the 4-1 victory (Box). The Beavers were aggressive with the goallie pull, amassing five and-a-half minutes of extra skater time in the third, including opting for a six on-three skater approach with eight minutes to go on a 5-on-3 power play. Overall, the Purple and White had a medley of scores, including a regular strength goal (Johannson), a power play goal (Lindstrom), a short handed goal (Ho) and the aforementioned empty netter.
On Monday, Amherst reaped the rewards of their big OOC week and entered the national polls (D3hockey.com/USCHO) for the first time since officially dropping their unofficial mascot in January of this year. The Purple and White came in at 11 in the D3H poll and 13 in USCHO as the only NESCAC team to make both polls. On an individual level, freshman Pat Daly's five point week (3-2-5) earned him NESCAC Player of the Week honors.
Amherst heads to the Nutmeg State to take on Wesleyan on Friday.
Bowdoin (3-2-0)
The Polar Bears started a three game week at home against in-state opponent University of New England. The PBs scored three unaswered goals over the final period and a half, including two from Cody Todesco and Thomas Dunleavy's first collegiate tally, to quell the Nor'Easters 5-3 (Box). Eric Wurman made 33 saves in his first start of the season to earn the victory.
The weekend brought the Bowdoin/Colby Faceoff Classic. On Saturday in Brunswick, Geneseo goalie Devin McDonald made 30 saves and despite Cody
Todesco’s best effort(a hat trick), the Polar Bears could not pull an upset
against the 7th ranked Knights. Bowdoin had 34 shots on the evening. A
power play goal from Tedesco in a 5-on-3 situation in the third pulled the Polar
Bears to within two goals at 6-4. This put a crack in the Sidney J Watson Arena
ceiling the size of a puck, but they could not break the ceiling as the Knights
finished off the game 7-4 (Box). Peter Cronin made 21 saves for Bowdoin in defeat.
On Sunday in Waterville, Mark Schiller became the fourth goalie to start in five games for Bowdoin. The Polar Bear senior earned his first collegiate victory with 34 saves in an 8-3 beatdown of Becker (Box). The Hawks will be glad to be done with the NESCAC for this season after being outscored 19-6 in three losses to the 'CAC during the week (Bowdoin, Colby, Tufts). Max Ginsberg scored his first college goal, while fellow frosh Christian Cappello one-uped him with his first two collegiate goals. Ronnie Lestan had a less celebratory first: his first game disqualification after a hit from behind in the second.
The rivalry is renewed on Friday as the Polar Bears take on Colby in Brunswick at home, followed by Colby's home game on Saturday.
Colby (3-1-0)
The Mules remained in Maine after their 4 point opening weekend for the Bowdoin Colby Faceoff Classic. On Saturday in Brunswick, the Mules took care of Becker, 8-3, (Box) with the help of Kienan Scott's first two college goals. The win setup Sunday's home matchup with Geneseo as the championship of the Faceoff Classic. Colby fell behind 2-0 in the first period but fought back for a 3-2 third period lead. Just 25.2 seconds from victory, the Knights - with the goalie pulled and the extra attacker - fired one past Andrew Tucci to force OT. Geneseo then knocked one home in overtime to give Colby their first loss of the season (Box).
The Mules remained in Maine after their 4 point opening weekend for the Bowdoin Colby Faceoff Classic. On Saturday in Brunswick, the Mules took care of Becker, 8-3, (Box) with the help of Kienan Scott's first two college goals. The win setup Sunday's home matchup with Geneseo as the championship of the Faceoff Classic. Colby fell behind 2-0 in the first period but fought back for a 3-2 third period lead. Just 25.2 seconds from victory, the Knights - with the goalie pulled and the extra attacker - fired one past Andrew Tucci to force OT. Geneseo then knocked one home in overtime to give Colby their first loss of the season (Box).
Conn College (0-4-0)
The Camels dropped a pair at the Skidmore Invitational to remain winless on the year and 3-22-3 in their last 28 dating back to the start of last season. On Saturday, host Skidmore outshot Conn college 34-14 but Avery Gobbo kep them in the game with 32 saves, but it wasn't enough as the Camels fell 2-1 (Box). Gobbo was again in net for a 3-2 loss to Fitchburg State on Sunday (Box). Rory Galasco had his first collegiate tally in the loss. The Camels head up to Vermont to face fellow winless squad Middlebury on Friday.
Hamilton (3-0-1)
The Continentals framed Thanksgiving with a home-and-home againt SUNY Canton (1-7-1) this week. On Tuesday in Clinton (box) , senior Charlie Fennell stopped 18 stops in his first start of the season and five different Conts scored (including Nick Ursitti's first collegiate tally) as the Conts vanquished the visiting Roos 5-2.
On Saturday in Canton (box), the shots on goal were a bit closer (36/28 compared to 42/20 on Tuesday) but the result was the same: a three goal victory for Hamilton. Boots made 27 saves and Neil Conway scored twice to move into the team lead for ponts (3-3-6) early in the season.
Next up for Hamilton is a trip to Hartford for a matchup with Trinity.
Middlebury (0-4-0)
The glory days of Middlebury are long, and it is unfair to keep comparing this team to a memory, but it's hard to image a Middlebury team finishing last in three straight Primelink Great Northern Shootouts as they have the past three seasons.
The Panthers played well in the opening round against nationally ranked rival Norwich (Box), before falling 3-2 in OT for their second OT loss in three games. The Panthers then lost 5-2 to host Plattsburgh in the consolation game (Box) to remain winless on the season. Platty fell to the consolation game after being upset by the invite team, Concordia College (Mn.), in the opening round. Stephen Klein played both games in net this weekend for Middlebury.
The Panthers return to Vermont for their home opener on Friday against Conn College with both teams looking for their first win of the season.
Trinity (3-2-0)
The Bantams opened up non-conference play with a couple of a$$-whoppins of D-II teams. On Tuesday, Post University, in their first year of existence as an NCAA program, fell to Trinity 12-0 in Hartford (Box) with a shot differential of 72-3 (no that's not a typo). Several players got their first collegiate tallies including Liam Feeney, not to be confused with beloved character George Feeney from Boy Meets World, who also may have scored in this game, not sure.
On Saturday, Trinity continued the beatdown train with a 12-0 victory (Box). The shot differential was a much more modest 59-19 with Trinity going 7/13 on the power play. Things got immediately tighter on Sunday when the Bantams returned to playing D-III competition. The Bantams outshot University of Southern Maine 48-20, but Huskies goalie Kyle Shapiro stood on his head for a 2-1 victory (Box).
The Bantams opened up non-conference play with a couple of a$$-whoppins of D-II teams. On Tuesday, Post University, in their first year of existence as an NCAA program, fell to Trinity 12-0 in Hartford (Box) with a shot differential of 72-3 (no that's not a typo). Several players got their first collegiate tallies including Liam Feeney, not to be confused with beloved character George Feeney from Boy Meets World, who also may have scored in this game, not sure.
On Saturday, Trinity continued the beatdown train with a 12-0 victory (Box). The shot differential was a much more modest 59-19 with Trinity going 7/13 on the power play. Things got immediately tighter on Sunday when the Bantams returned to playing D-III competition. The Bantams outshot University of Southern Maine 48-20, but Huskies goalie Kyle Shapiro stood on his head for a 2-1 victory (Box).
Tufts (4-1-0)
The Jumbos started the week with a blanking of Becker (box), 3-0, thanks to a couple of goals from first timers (Tyler Scroggins and Blake McIntyre) and 35 saves from Mason Pulde. Pulde then made 24 saves in a 4-1 win over Brockport in the opening round of the Rutland Herald Invitational (Box), a tournament which the Jumbos won in 2015. In the finals, an emerging Western New England team knocked off the defending champs (Box) , 3-1, to hand the Jumbos their first loss of the season. Nik Nugnes was in net for the loss.
Coach Norton marches his charges into Williamstown on Friday for a rematch of the 2016 NESCAC Quarterfinals. The eight seeded Jumbos downed the top seed Ephs in that contest for their second straight 8/1 upset. This season the Jumbos have their sites on a home playoff game and a road win in Western Mass would be a solid step in that direction.
Wesleyan (3-1-0)
The Cardinals spent the weekend at home swapping non-conference opponents with Trinity. Sophomore George Blinick made 26 saves in his first collegiate start to shutout University of Southern Maine 2-0 (Box) on Saturday. Fellow sophomore Andy Espinoza scored both tallies for the Cardinals on the evening. On Sunday, Wesleyan blewout Franklin Pierce, 8-1 (Box), thanks to goals from eight different Cardinals, including three first time scorers (Tydingco, McCusker, Vannier).
Williams (1-2-0)
The Ephs played only one game this week taking on the nationallly ranked Babson Beavers on Saturday (Box). Williams outshot the Beavers, 42-24, but Babson goalie Matt Pompa channeled his predecessor (2015-16 D-III Player of the Year Jamie Murray) and stopped 41 of the shots for a 2-1 Babson victory, their seventh straight. Williams opens up their home slate (with new unis!) on Friday with the aformentioned rematch with Tufts.
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