It was a good game, with each team carrying play as momentum shifted back and forth. I'm not sure about the reliability of that shot count, but overall, Mass-B did outshoot the Cards, and Wes could not find a scoring touch. Lots of opportunities each way, and 1-0 until the EN goal with less than :30 remaining.
In the consolation game, Wes and SHU faced off for the third time this season. While Wes controlled the puck much of the time, again, they couldn't convert opportunities, while SHU capitalized on 3 breakaways.
Who said the ECAC-East owns the NESCAC???
We're on a roll, so tonight Williams over Plymouth State and Conn College over Nichols.
Go U Ephs and Camels!!!
Who said the ECAC-East owns the NESCAC???
We're on a roll, so tonight Williams over Plymouth State and Conn College over Nichols.
Go U Ephs and Camels!!!
Back to some in conference action (after feasting on the ECAC-East)!
Middlebury sweeps Wesleyan
Amherst sweeps Colby
Bowdoin and Conn College split
Williams and Trinity split
and non-conference, Hamilton sweeps Cortland
So much NESCAC action here in Connecticut this weekend, but I took in the Polar Bear-Camel contest in New London, and it was a good one!
Bowdoin scored early on a pretty play: red hot Tess-Wanat (her 6th goal in 3 games) passed from the right boards back to Tang at the blueline; she fed across to Fahey on the left point; Fahey passed around the D and found Tess-Wanat moving into the right circle for a shot that beat Leichliter high stickside.
The Polar Bears got a break when Sweet was called for cross-checking midway in the period. Coach Steele elected to double shift the Dumont-Farrell-DiPasquale line to begin the powerplay, only to see Bowdoin's Lozzi whistled for tripping, and not have the top line out for the 5x3 opportunity. The Camels did cash in a powerplay goal to tie the score just as the Lozzi penalty expired. McRae buried a long, low slapshot from the left point, beneath a diving Bowdoin forward and under Connolly, with assists to Posillico and Dineen..
Bowdoin regained the lead on a powerplay early in the 2nd. Ludy and Tang were working low in the right corner on the asymetric Polar Bear powerplay set and the Camel defense had collapsed low, Tang got the puck to Lane at right point, she had space and walked in for a slapshot , beating Leichliter up gloveside.
The Polar Bears netted the what proved to be the game winner just as a powerplay expired, as Lane got the puck down the right boards to Merrill, who found Ludy at top of the crease, gloveside, for the score under Leichliter.
The Camels were giving the Polar Bears fits on their breakout as the period wore on, and with a faceoff in the Bowdoin zone, Coach Steele called a time out and boldly pulled her goalie for the extra attacker. Her move was rewarded a minute or so later when Driscoll and Dumont were snipping away from Connolly's stickside, back of the net, only to have Farrell come around and poke the puck home inside the gloveside post.
Leichliter was back on for the ensuing faceoff and, although she got off again, time ran out before Conn could tie the score.
Rematch today at 3.
While it is still early in the meat of the NESCAC schedule, these points are critical. Amherst and Middlebury are clearly the top contenders for the regular season title, but 3rd place in conference is up for grabs. Bowdoin plays Wesleyan, Williams and Trinity twice each at Watson, but must visit Middlebury and then end the year with a trip to Hamilton before hosting Amherst. I must say the Polar Bears let 2 get away with their OT loss at Colby. It is hard to imagine there being more than a point or two separating 3rd and 5th or 6th come the end of February (and the Polar Bears do not want to need points the last weekend of the regular season).
GO U BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bowdoin over St. Anselm-Polar Bears did not look sharp against Conn Saturday, but that renowned dining service food should have them ready by Tuesday evening!
Middlebury over Utica-Panthers tuning up for the de facto conference regular season title weekend
Salve Regina over Wesleyan
Williams over New England College-the Ephs have some offense
So the big day has arrived: Panthers@Lord Jeffs round 1 7pm at Orr! Clash of the titians, the defacto NESCAC regular season championship series, hosting rights for the NESCAC tournament.
It was not always like this. Looking back at the history of Amherst-Middlebury one has to realize the Lord Jeffs did not take a point from the Panthers until 2/9/07 when they palyed a 2-2 tie at Orr, or that it took a 64 save 3OT game to produce theri first ever win over Midd at Kenyon 3/4/07. Back then Middlebury was the power and merely had to deal with upstart Polar Bears or pesky Ephs. I remember the first women's game I ever saw, 12/7/01 at Dayton. Bowdoin Alum relations had e-mailed something about the ranked Polar Bears playing #1 Midd, who were riding some ridiculous 132(?) game unbeat DIII winning streak, so I took my son out of class to "go look at colleges" and we were there for the 3-2 Panther win, but I was hooked. I was at the incredibly funky New Roc City when Manhattanville ended that 136 game win streak on 1/26/02. I started driving randomly around New England for games. I am unclear exactly when I started exchanging small talk with then Bowdoin assistant Coach Plumer. I do know I first spoke with Coach Mandigo at the Panther-Cardinal Classic in November '05. Back then I was really just a crazy Polar Bear fan. Over the years I have come to embrace all the NESCAC teams and hope I have been able to become a more objective obserbear.
That said, I think this weekend produces a split. I have not seen either team play since the break and the stats show amazingly evenly matched clubs. Balanced scoring, great goal play, pretty even special teams. Should be worth the drive!!!
So the big day has arrived: Panthers@Lord Jeffs round 1 7pm at Orr! Clash of the titians, the defacto NESCAC regular season championship series, hosting rights for the NESCAC tournament.
It was not always like this. Looking back at the history of Amherst-Middlebury one has to realize the Lord Jeffs did not take a point from the Panthers until 2/9/07 when they palyed a 2-2 tie at Orr, or that it took a 64 save 3OT game to produce theri first ever win over Midd at Kenyon 3/4/07. Back then Middlebury was the power and merely had to deal with upstart Polar Bears or pesky Ephs. I remember the first women's game I ever saw, 12/7/01 at Dayton. Bowdoin Alum relations had e-mailed something about the ranked Polar Bears playing #1 Midd, who were riding some ridiculous 132(?) game unbeat DIII winning streak, so I took my son out of class to "go look at colleges" and we were there for the 3-2 Panther win, but I was hooked. I was at the incredibly funky New Roc City when Manhattanville ended that 136 game win streak on 1/26/02. I started driving randomly around New England for games. I am unclear exactly when I started exchanging small talk with then Bowdoin assistant Coach Plumer. I do know I first spoke with Coach Mandigo at the Panther-Cardinal Classic in November '05. Back then I was really just a crazy Polar Bear fan. Over the years I have come to embrace all the NESCAC teams and hope I have been able to become a more objective obserbear.
That said, I think this weekend produces a split. I have not seen either team play since the break and the stats show amazingly evenly matched clubs. Balanced scoring, great goal play, pretty even special teams. Should be worth the drive!!!
Great reminiscense, Bear. Kinda like reading about how the Batman legend was born. I am anxious for tonight's tilt as well. Last year we saw how Amherst was affected by relying on first years to blend in. This year it seems to be Midd's turn to rely on first year depth. I think Amherst is smaller but faster than they were during the Hanlon Zukas era. Last year Midd finally figured out how to handle the size, now lets see how they adapt to handle the speed. Go you Panthers!
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