The Continentals will not need those retro threads if they are to win the NESCAC title as the Conts will host NESCAC championship weekend for the first time in the 18 season history of the NESCAC playoffs. Bowdoin fails to make the NESCAC semis for the third straight season after back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.
Hamilton's Jason Brochu had two goals (including an empty netter) and Conts leading point scorer Neil Conway dingled and dangled for another, while Tyler Bruneteau blasted one from the point on a feed from Truman Landowski to round out the scoring. For the vanquished Polar Bears, Ronnie Lestan pounded home a rebound from the initial Matt Lison shot to briefly give Bowdoin a 1-0 lead in the 1st. Matt Sullivan - with his father preparing for a Stadium Series game in Pittsburgh - scored an unassisted tally late in the third to close out his collegiate career.
In net, sophomore Peter Cronin made 27 saves in defeat and Evan Buitenhuis made 25 saves for the victory. The Continentals win a home playoff game for the first time in four tries and will host NESCAC championship weekend for the first time.
Tweet of the Game:
NESCAC 'final four' headed to Sage after men's hockey beats Bowdoin https://t.co/QKAUZDXdE9 @nescachockey @OD_Birnell #rageinsage pic.twitter.com/4eiEJVggQ9— Hamilton College (@HamiltonCollege) February 26, 2017
#7 Wesleyan became the first NESCAC team to beat #2 Colby in Waterville this season with a 5-4 upset (Box). Like their back-and-forth affair in January no team had more than a one goal lead throughout. Dylan Holze had three points for the Cardinals (2-1-3) earning him NESCAC Player of the Week Honors on Monday. Wesleyan had a 4-3 lead after two periods, until Colby struck even with a Michael Rudolf girl 49 seconds into the third...only to lose the lead on a Luke Babcock goal just 12 seconds later.
Senior Dawson Sprigings made 27 saves for his first NESCAC playoff win to keep his collegiate career alive for one more weekend, while D1 transfer Sean Lawerence laid a bit of a dud in his first college playoff game with just 19 saves. The crowd was sizable and got into the game, especially when the rink staff had to fix the glass in the third and amped up the Mules faithful.
The Cardinals advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2011 when they made it to the final weekend as an eighth seed after upsetting Hamilton, the same team and seed they will face in the semis on Saturday.
Wow. What a crowd at the Alfond. Thanks to all @themules that turned out to support us - that's what @ColbyCollege is all about #holdthehill— Chris Hall (@chall4431) February 26, 2017
#3 Trinity ousted #6 Tufts from the NESCAC playoffs for the second straight season with a 4-1 victory (Box). Nik Nugnes did his best Mason Pulde impression from the past two quarterinfals, stopping 46 of the 49 shots he faced, but it wasn't enough as the Bantams advance to NESCAC championship weekend thanks in part to a three point weekend from senior Ethan Holdaway (2-1-3) that included an empty netter. Alex Morin did not have to work as hard in net in victory as Nugnes in defeat, but he did stop 25 shots to make it 11 straight games in which he has given up two or less goals.
Was it the last home game for the seven man Bantam class that has two one hundred point scorers (Ryan Cole and Sean Orlando) and boasts a national title, two regular season NESCAC crowns, two NCAA tournament appearances and a NESCAC tournament championship in their first three seasons? The current D3Hockey.com Bracketology has the Bantams earning an at-large bid "Pool C" bid and hosting a first round game, but a lot of movement can happen between now and selection Monday morning. If they leave Clinton this weekend with some new hardware they will definitely get another chance in front of the Trinity faithful.
NESCAC hockey playoff doubleheader at 1pm men v Tufts.. at 4:30pm women v Amherst #trincoll #GoBants #rollbants #NESCAC pic.twitter.com/rsVN26MqFe
— Trinity(CT)Equipment (@TCBantsEquip) February 25, 2017
The Bantams will play #4 Williams, thanks to a 2-1 victory (Box) over the Ephs archival, #5 Amherst in the quarterfinals. A bit of a fluky goal from Luke Stickel late in the 2nd period turned out to be the difference to send Williams to NESCAC championship weekend hsted by Luke's brother Jon Stickel and the Continentals. Amherst led after one on a Tyler Granara goal before the two Ephs goals in the second, the first coming from Marcus Mollica. Michael Pinios, who was shaky in net earlier in the year, made 22 saves and has let up a one or less goals in four of his last five outings. Connor Girard stopped 26 shots in defeat in what was the usual, physical, low-scoring game between the two well-coached purple clad schools with a deep seated aversion for one another.
Watching the Colonel Ephraim Williams College #Ephs play the Lord Jeffrey Amherst College um... Hamsters(?) in #NESCAC hockey. 🏒#d3hky
— Steve Tomkowicz(@smtEphHamP) February 25, 2017 8 teams entered the Quarterfinals. Only four leave with a shot to claim the NESCAC crown at Hamilton.
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