Conference and Non Conference Roundup 12/9/16

First year Bowdoin coach Jamie Dumont earned a victory
in his first game outside the confines of Maine

Friday featured four conference games, including Bowdoin/Colby venturing out of the environs of Maine for the first time and a non-conference affair in upstate New York for Trinity in "The Cooler" against a nationally ranked opponent. 


Hamilton  (6-0-1; 3-0-1 NESCAC)      3
Middlebury (0-7-0; 0-5-0 NESCAC)     0
Box Score   Recap 

Reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Evan Buitenhuis made 21 saves for his second straight shutout as Hamilton remained the only undefeated team overall on the season in the NESCAC (Colby is still undefeated in conference) and Middlebury remained the only winless team in a rematch of last season's NESCAC Quartefinals.

Most of the scoring occurred in the first period when Conor Lamberti scored off a nice feed from Neil Conway and Robbie Murden put in a power play goal through traffic (Ham. was 1/5 on the PP; Midd. 0/2).  The Panthers thought they got in the board on the second when Buitenhuis appeared to cover the puck, but no whistle was blown. Greg Conrad assiduously poked away at Boots' glove until the ref was pointing at the goal and Middlebury celebrated. After a few minutes of a ref conference, however, the goal was called off.

The Panthers pulled Stephen Klein (31 saves on the evening) on their second power play of the evening with less than five to play but were unable to score. Shortly after the end of the PP, Truman Landowski threw in an empty netter to seal the victory. The Conts take their road blue to take on the home buff of Williams' new jerseys on Saturday, while the Panthers look for their first win of the season against Amherst in a rematch of last season's NESCAC semis.


Amherst (3-3-1; 0-3-1 NESCAC)          3
Williams (3-2-1; 3-1-1 NESCAC)        4
Box Score  Recap

It was a special (teams) matchup between the archrivaling shades of purple of Friday night. All seven goals were scored on special teams - three each for both squads on the power play and one short handed tally for Williams - and the Ephs bookended the scoring on the (alleged) book thiefs with two goals each each in the first and third periods. 2014-15 NESCAC Rookie of the Year David White had his first two goals of the season in defeat while Roberto Celini had his team leading fifth goal for Williams on a short-handed tally to pull even with Amherst in the third and David Italiano scored the game winner with 3:55 left for his team leading 11th point (3-8-11).

Michael Pinios had 23 saves for the victory while Conor Girard had 19 in defeat to fall to 1-3-1 on the year. Before last weekend the Purple and White were riding high after two straight wins over non-conference opponents and the highest nationally ranking in the 'Cac. Since then they have lost three straight in conference and sit alongside Middlebury as the only winless teams in conference. The two will meet on Saturday while Williams hosts Hamilton in a battle of the two reigning All-NESCAC goalies.



Bowdoin (5-4-0; 2-3-0 NESCAC)    4
Tufts (5-1-1; 3-1-1 NESCAC)            0
Box Score   Recap

Peter Cronin made 43 saves and freshman Tommy Dunleavy scoread twice for a Bowdoin win in their first game outside of Maine on the season and the first NESCAC loss of the season for Tufts. After starting the season 0-4, Cronin now has two straight shutouts after he started the week with a 22 save blanking of Southern Maine on Tuesday. Mason Pulde had 28 saves in defeat for the Jumbos.
The Polar Bears continue their southward venture to take on Conn College on Saturday, while Colby comes in to the Malden Valley Forum for a matchup with Tufts to close out the semester.


Colby (5-1-1; 4-0-1 NESCAC)                     1
Conn College (1-5-1; 1-3-1 NESCAC)        1 
Box Score   Recap 

Colby survived a third period goal from Conn College and wardrobe malfunctions to hang on for a tie and remain unbeaten in the 'CAC. Junior Michael Rudolf scored his first goal of the season in the 1st for the only scoring for the Mules while Jeff Thompson scored the equalizer for the Camels in the final regulation frame.  The box score says sophomore Mack Burton was in net for the Mules for the goal but  Andrew Tucci was in fact in net. Burton did play some of the third thanks to equipment isseus.    Tucci made 20 saves in regulation/OT while Burton made 11 saves in his stint in net (though these are likely to be updated when box score is). Avery Gobbo had 38 saves between the pipes for CC.   The Camels host Bowdoin on Saturday still looking for their first win in New London since the 2015 NESCAC quarterfinals (0-11-3 since) and Colby looks to down Tufts.


Trinity (4-3-1)     4
Hobart (7-2-3)    4
Box Score  Recap

Alex Morin made 31 saves as Trinity was outshot for the first time this season (35-29, including a 4-0 advantage for Hobart in OT). The eighth ranked Statesmen scored two short-handed goals for the second straight tie between these two teams in as many seasons. Four different Bantams scored while Ethan Holdaway and Ryan Cole each pitched in with two assists each. Trinity closes out the semester on the road in the Keystone state Saturday against Elmira.

Correction: We originally said Mack Burton was in net for Conn College's goal, but it was in fact starter Andrew Tucci. The box score is still pending update. Thanks to CC's play-by-play webcast announcer for the correction.