Conference Roundup 1/21/17

Tufts (7-6-3;5-4-1 NESCAC)            1
Wesleyan (9-4-2; 5-3-2 NESAC)      4
Box Score 

Wesleyan followed up a furious third period comeback on Friday with a comfortable three goal win on Saturday. George Blinick made 26 saves and let up only his fourth goal in as many starts this season and Vincent Lima scored his second and third goals of the season to lead the Cardinals. It will be interesting to see if Blinick carves out a nitch in a goalie rotation with Dawson Sprigings, who has been the Cards' workhorse in net the last three seasons with mixed results.  The once stout goalie duo of Mason Pulde and Nik Nugnes has shown kinks recently for the Jumbos. Both goalies gave up at least one goal for the second straight night with Pulde giving up three and Nugnes giving up one.

The Cards have a non-conference game on Tuesday before heading to a tough weekend with Amherst and Hamilton while Tufts hosts Williams and Middlebury.


Colby (7-4-4;6-3-3 NESCAC)           3
Williams (8-5-3; 5-2-3 NESCAC)    3
Box Score

No team had more than a one goal lead in a game in which Williams outshot the Mules 39-16. Frosh Andrew Tucci stopped 36 of those Eph shots while Michael Pinios only made 13 saves in a sophomore campaign that has seen much more pedestrian numbers than his stellar rookie season.  The usual suspects scored for the Ephs (Italiano, Shuggart, Celini), including a beaut of an assist from Frankie Mork on teh Italiano goal, while senior Geoff Sullivan had two tallies and Nick O'Connor scored once for the Mules.

The Mules play non-conference affairs (University of New England; Fitchburg St.) next weekend while Williams travels to Tufts and Conn College looking to get near or at the top spot in the wide open NESCAC standings.


Bowdoin (7-10-0; 4-8-0 NESCAC)           1
Middlebury (1-13-1; 1-9-0 NESCAC)    5
Box Score

In the battle of struggling, former powerhouses, Middlebury came out the gate energized and earned the Panthers first win this season and handed Bowdoin their sixth loss in seven games. The win keeps the Panthers slim hopes for a playoff spot alive. Senior Vincent Gissonti lead the way with two goals for Middlebury while frosh Tom Dunleavy had the lone tally for the Polar Bears. Stephen Klein made 32 saves for the victory while Nathan Colaninno made 25 in defeat.

The Polar Bears play only game this week, a non-conference tilt with Southern Maine, while Middlebury hits the road looking to jumpstart a playoff push with road matchups with Conn College and Tufts.



Conn College (3-10-2; 1-7-2 NESCAC)      0
Trinity (10-5-1; 6-4-0 NESCAC)                5
Box Score

Trinity completed a weekend of outscoring opponents 12-1 as Alex Morin stopped the 16 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. The wins don't push the pre-season favorite Bantams into the top half of the standings yet, but it was a reminder of how dangerous they can be if Morin plays well in net and their high-powered offense is clicking. They'll face off against Hamilton in the Conts' annual "Citrus Bowl" next Friday and then head to Amherst on Saturday. Conn College will host Middlebury on Friday in a battle for last place and Williams on Saturday.