Saturday, March 4, 2017

NESCAC semis Live


1st Period
After  a sustained sequence in the Trinity zone, a loose puck came to Taylor Carmola just inside the left blueline. Carmola fired it in and Alex Haggerty tipped it past Morin for the 1-0 lead about eight minutes in.   Less than five minutes later, CJ shuggart took a pass from Mollica off the dasher and found Luke Stickel in front of the net for the 2-0 lead.

Trinity would break the Ephs momentum and get one back less than two minutes later when Ryan Cole followed up an Anthony Sabitsky wrap around attempt to cut it to 2-1. The Ephs went on the first power play of the game a few minutes later but the Bantams held the passing lanes to limit any serious attempts. Taylor Carmola, he of heroic strength earlier in the period, then took a tripping penalty to give the dangerous Trinity power play an opportunity. They would capitalize when the other Cole, Brandon, found a streaking Barclay Gamill, who shot it in with the backhand near post past Pinios for the tie.


2nd Period 
No scoring but there were some scoring opportunities, mostly for Trinity. Early in the period, Sean Orlando found himself wide open in front of the net, but he went to the backhand and hesitated for a moment too long with Pinios outstretched and it was poked away. The Bantams also had several hard shots on net that ended up with players, both in white and purple, crashing into him. Neither team could capitalize on their one power play opportunity and the Bantams had the 21-17 shots advantage after two, while Williams held a considerable advantage in blocked shots. 

3rd Period
Tensions were mounting with some more pushing after the whistle. You'd think it was a tied playoff game in the third, or something. The Bantams finally broke the scoreless drought for both teams in the final two minutes, when Sam Johnson dumped it in off the back dasher and Sean Orlando banged it home for what proved to be the game winner. The Ephs would pull Pinios shortly thereafter. Ethan Holdaway eventually found himself past an outstretched defender and put in an empty net goal for the second straight game to seal the 4-2 victory. Final shots in favor of Trinity 37-28.

It's a tough end of the road for Frankie Mork and the rest of Kangas senior class, but then again it always is for anyone that doesn't win the title. The Bantams advance to their second straight title game, where they will face a neophyte NESCAC finalist in either Hamilton or Wesleyan.


SEMI 2
1st Period
Sold out  crowd for "Rage in the Sage 2". The Hamilton faithful were into it, but it was the Cardinals he drew first blood. After a Neil Conway penalty, Wesleyan dumped it in the zone on the power play. Usually adept Evan Buitenhuis sent out a lazy clear from behind the net and Cam McCusker gobbled it up and fired it in for an off angle opened net goal unassisted. Hamilton would have their own PP soon after and hit the post on a Bennett Morrison shot. Soon after they had a second power play and Truman Landowski fed recent Second Team All-NESCAC selection Jon Carkeek for the power play point snipe. AFter another failed Hamilton clear, Elliot Pour tried the wrap around before Quincy Oujevolk put it home for a 2-1 lead at the 17:13 mark of the first for the Cardinals. Shots in favor of Hamilton 10-8 after one.

2nd Period
Vincent Lima gave Wesleyan a 3-1 lead when he poked home a rebound from a James Kline backhand through Boots' five hole. Buitenhuis gave up three goals on teh first 12 shots taken by the Cardinals.

The Continentals finally got one back late in the period after a Cole Morrissette boarding call. After the Conts barely kept it in the zone, Morrison skated over from the point to his left and fired one on net that went through traffic and into the net with 1:42 left. Almost immediately afterward, the Conts went back to the box. The clock was ticking away, when Ian Nichols alley ooped it from his end to a rushing Conway. Conway went back hand and beat Sprigings for the tie...or did he? Refs conferred and it was after the buzzer, no goal, Cards led 3-2 after two. Shots in favor of Wes. 20-19 after two.




3rd Period
Absolutely bonkers period that ends with a 5-4 Hamilton win thanks to two Nick Ursitti goals down the stretch even though Wesleyan had the prettiest of the goals. We will fill more in later with the specifics but Hamilton advances to their first NESCAC finals and will host Trinity tomorrow. Heartbreaking loss for the Cardinals, who were outshot 41-40 in the end. Hamilton wins despite Buitenhuis giving up more than three goals for the first time this season.

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