Courtesy of Amherst Sports Information
AMHERST, Mass. – Three third-period goals lifted the second-seeded Amherst men's ice hockey team to a 4-2 win over seventh-seeded Connecticut College in NESCAC Quarterfinal action Saturday at Orr Rink.
Trailing 2-1 early in the third, Amherst (15-7-3) scored three straight including the game-winner at 17:43 to advance to the semifinals hosted by Trinity next Saturday, Mar. 8. The Jeffs will play No. 3 Williams at 1 p.m. Despite a strong finish to the regular season (5-1-1), the Camels' 2014 campaign comes to an end with a 9-14-2 record. Amherst is now unbeaten in 11 straight games against its NESCAC rival.
The Jeffs took the first lead of the game in the opening period when Mike Rowbotham found the back of the net off an assist from co-captain Andrew Kurlandski at 10:56. It was Rowbotham's fifth score of the year and seventh assist for Kurlandski. Both teams remained scoreless the remainder of the period.
The Camels evened the score in the second frame. At 6:49, co-captain Mike Sinsigali netted his seventh of the year with an assist from Zach Jones. Both defenses held strong as they entered the third period in a 1-1 deadlock.
It didn't take long for Conn. College to take a lead in the third stanza. Opening the period with a power-play, the Camels took advantage of their opportunity when Joe Giordano slipped a wrap-around underneath the pads of Amherst netminder Dave Cunningham at 1:08.
The Jeffs retaliated nicely just 2:26 later when Elliot Bostrom sent a slapshot from the back right zone to the back of the net. He was unassisted on the play.
In the closing minutes, Ryan Mowery of Conn. College made some nifty moves to get a clear shot in front of the net but Cunningham reached his hand out for the glove save. On the opposite end, Brendan Burke skated down the left side of the ice and stuck the puck between the legs of Camel goalie Mike Petchonka for the game-winner at 17:43.
Conn. College pulled its goalie with 1:12 remaining but co-captain Brian Safstrom found the empty net to put the game out of reach just 15 seconds later as Amherst pulled out the come-from-behind win, 4-2
Cunningham was solid between the posts for Amherst, stopping 23 shots that went his way. Petchonka also put in a strong showing with 26 saves. The Jeffs held a 30-25 edge in shots.
