Monday, November 20, 2017

Quick Hits: Opening Weekend Wrap

In Amherst on Friday, the Mammoths kissed their prehistoric mammal sister and drew Hamilton to a 2-2 tie (Box, Recap). Jack Arena's squad  characteristically held the Continentals to just 22 shots in a penalty laden affair with the Mammoths scoring both goals on two of their eight power play opportunities and  Rob Haberbusch's crew carrying their power play troubles over from last year for an 0ffer on seven man-up chances. Nick Bondra for Amherst and Cam Radziwon (a D1 transfer from Colgate) for Hamilton each had their first collegiate goals. Reigning DIII player of the year Evan Buitenhuis made 26 saves while Amherst's Connor Girard stopped 20 shots.

Amherst is off until a non-conference affair with St. Michael's on Tuesday while Hamilton opened at home against Stevenson from the newly formed UCHC (the old ECAC-West, mostly). The Continentals handed the  second year NCAA club their first loss of the season 6-0 (Box , Recap) thanks to Holy Cross transfer Anthony Tiribassi's 29 saves in his Hamilton debut and Nick Ursitti's three point night (2-1-3). Junior Johnny Stimola also potted his first collegiate goal on the afternoon.

In the Nutmeg state, Trinity took care of bidness, easily downing Tufts 5-1 (Box, Recap) on Friday  thanks to 38 overall shots and goals from five different Bantams, including rookies Eric Benshadle and Dylan Healey. Nik Nugnes stopped 32 of 36 shots in defeat and rookie Drew Hotte stopped one of two shots in a brief relief appearance in the second period.

The Bantams then peppered Conn College goalie Avery Gobbo with 47 shots on Saturday but only came away with a 2-1 victory (Box, Recap) thanks to Gobbo's stellar 45 save appearance in defeat.  Alex Morin made 36 saves on the weekend total with 13 saves against the Camels and 23 saves against the Jumbos on Friday. Charlie Zuccarini and Liam Feeney had the third period tallies for the Bants to overcome a 1-0 deficit after two and keep the Bantams record sheet perfect for opening weekend.

The Camels didn't leave the weekend empty handed as they  upset host Wesleyan 5-3 (Box, Recap) on Friday night.  Jacob Moreau and Ryan Petti scored two apiece (including an empty netter for Petti) and Greg Pezza notched his first collegiate tally for Jim Ward's team and followed it up with his second goal in the Trinity game. Petti's first goal with 4:10 left in third broke a 3-3 tie. Connor Roddericks stopped 38 of the 41 Cardinal shots he saw while George Blinick gave up four goals on thirty shots in defeat. Senior Dylan Holze had two goals in a losing effort.

Both the Cardinals and Jumbos looked for their first win of the season on Saturday, but neither left the rink either vanquished or the vanquishing party as they skated to a 3-3 tie (Box, Recap). Hobart transfer Tim Sestak got his first start as a Cardinal and made 28 saves, while Tufts rookie Hotte made 32 saves in his first collegiate start. The Jumbos took a 3-1 lead into the third period thanks to two tallies on only three power play opportunities. Senior Jordan Jancze scored twice for his first multi-goal college game, including the game equalizer 10:31 into the third. The Cardinals scored just once on nine extra man opportunities on the afternoon. Craig Uyeno had his first collegiate goal for the Jumbos in the second period.

Williams got off on the right foot to start the brief Mike Monti era (Bill Kangas is on sabatical) with two one-goal victories on Saturday and Sunday. In the season opener, the Ephs rode three second period goals to hold on for a 4-3 victory over Bowdoin (Box, Recap). Senior netminder Stephen Morrisey got the start in the opener over starter Mike Pinios likely because it was senior night in Williams (they do it in the opener rather than the regular season finale) and he made 17 saves to Peter Cronin's 19 saves for the Polar Bears. Defenseman Keanu Hillaire had his first collegiate tally (and assisted on another) and was joined in scoring a first collegiate tally with Ephs frosh forward Nick Van Belle. Bowdoin had a first time scorer as well in two way Phillips Exeter product Bradley Ingersoll.

The Ephs eeked out a 3-2 victory over Colby  in Williamstown on Sunday (Box, Recap) thanks to a third period CJ Shugart deflection of the aptly named Colby Cretellla shot on the power play, the only special teams goal on the afternoon. Pinios had to face only 19 shots for the victory while the Mules Sean Lawrence saw 37 pucks. The Mules had quite a few more shots the night before in Vermont, routing the once proud Panthers of Middlebury 9-1 in their season opener (Box, Recap).  Senior Mario Benicky and sophomore JP Schuhlen each had hat tricks and frosh Joe Schuler and Sean Holly notched their first college goals in the route. Sophomore Brendan Dawson had the lone goal for the Panthers while all three goalies that dressed (Stephen Klein, Brian Ketchabaw and Henry Cutting) gave up at least one goal with Klein getting the start and taking the loss.

Klein was better on Sunday vs Bowdoin but his 27 saves were not enough as the Polar Bears downed the Panthers 2-0 (Box, Recap). Bowdoin frosh Alex Zafonte made 39 saves in his first collegiate start and win. Pat Geary and Thomas Dunleavy had the goals for the victorious Polar Bears.




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