Re: Nescac 2011-2012
I guess the big question was would the Zamboni work, it being Friday the 13th and all, but she was fired up resurfacing the ice when I wandered into Orr last evening. Always good to visit a bit before gametime and both teams had good groups of supporters on hand.
The Panthers had a good chance before I was in my seat and were swarming around Amherst goalie Murphy in the early in the 1st. Their efforts yielded back to back powerplay chances midway in the frame. They scored on a deflection when Woodward, working on the left wing centered to Bielawski on the blueline. Her drive was deftly redirected by Waters, parked at the top of the crease, with goalie Murphy moving to the left, and was inside the stickside post. The score animated the Lord Jeffs and play swung in their favor. They evened things when Lloyd took a shot from the point which was blocked in the high slot; she grabbed the puck and moved on her forehand low into the left circle. Midd goalie Jones reacted to her short stickside post, only to see Lloyd's shot deflected to her left by a well covered Doyen from the top of the crease.
The 2nd saw Amherst maintain their edge in territorial play and cash in twice to take what proved to be the game winning lead. Swiontowski and Fisher teamed up to make a play through the neutral zone, with a pass off the right boards and in deep into the right corner. Fisher lofted a pass toward the net and Swiontowski got it home. There was an official conference before it was ruled a good goal (hard to say in real time, and I did not get to see the play on tape after the game), although goalie Jones was clearly unhappy with the call. Lloyd scored the decisive 3rd goal after serving a hooking penalty. She came out of the box and jumped into an Amherst rush, headed for the crease and was tripped. The powerplay saw Swiontowski work the puck from the left half boards out to Salerno, mid-ice on the blueline. Lloyd was sliding low on the right and Salerno's feed for Lloyd's lefty one-timer from the top of the faceoff circle produced a rocket that beat Jones up on the short gloveside.
The 3rd saw Middlebury battle back. A D zone turnover early in the period was grabbed by Melberg who came across the crease on her forehand and wristed one off the right pipe, she then fed the puck from right of the net behind Murphy back through the crease, but no Panther was able to ram it home. The Panthers continued pressure much of the 3rd, but it was not until late that they drew within one. Amherst was changing and a wing was late getting out, Fluke was working in low off the gloveside post and found Melberg stepping out from the off side into open space at the top of the crease; her one timer beat Murphy up stickside. Things became even tighter with under 2 minutes left and Lloyd called for tripping as the Panthers jammed the crease. Midd controlled the faceoff and got Jones off for the 6th attacker. They peppering Murphy and buzzing about the crease until, with :15 to go Bielawski was called for roughing; the ensuing faceoff was in the Midd D zone and time expired for the 3-2 Amherst win.
Round 2 at 3 at Orr! An Amherst win gives them a commanding 2 game lead and the tie breaker (against Midd) in the NESCAC regular season race. Middlebury's play in coming back in the 3rd must have given them some confidence. Should be a good one.
I guess the big question was would the Zamboni work, it being Friday the 13th and all, but she was fired up resurfacing the ice when I wandered into Orr last evening. Always good to visit a bit before gametime and both teams had good groups of supporters on hand.
The Panthers had a good chance before I was in my seat and were swarming around Amherst goalie Murphy in the early in the 1st. Their efforts yielded back to back powerplay chances midway in the frame. They scored on a deflection when Woodward, working on the left wing centered to Bielawski on the blueline. Her drive was deftly redirected by Waters, parked at the top of the crease, with goalie Murphy moving to the left, and was inside the stickside post. The score animated the Lord Jeffs and play swung in their favor. They evened things when Lloyd took a shot from the point which was blocked in the high slot; she grabbed the puck and moved on her forehand low into the left circle. Midd goalie Jones reacted to her short stickside post, only to see Lloyd's shot deflected to her left by a well covered Doyen from the top of the crease.
The 2nd saw Amherst maintain their edge in territorial play and cash in twice to take what proved to be the game winning lead. Swiontowski and Fisher teamed up to make a play through the neutral zone, with a pass off the right boards and in deep into the right corner. Fisher lofted a pass toward the net and Swiontowski got it home. There was an official conference before it was ruled a good goal (hard to say in real time, and I did not get to see the play on tape after the game), although goalie Jones was clearly unhappy with the call. Lloyd scored the decisive 3rd goal after serving a hooking penalty. She came out of the box and jumped into an Amherst rush, headed for the crease and was tripped. The powerplay saw Swiontowski work the puck from the left half boards out to Salerno, mid-ice on the blueline. Lloyd was sliding low on the right and Salerno's feed for Lloyd's lefty one-timer from the top of the faceoff circle produced a rocket that beat Jones up on the short gloveside.
The 3rd saw Middlebury battle back. A D zone turnover early in the period was grabbed by Melberg who came across the crease on her forehand and wristed one off the right pipe, she then fed the puck from right of the net behind Murphy back through the crease, but no Panther was able to ram it home. The Panthers continued pressure much of the 3rd, but it was not until late that they drew within one. Amherst was changing and a wing was late getting out, Fluke was working in low off the gloveside post and found Melberg stepping out from the off side into open space at the top of the crease; her one timer beat Murphy up stickside. Things became even tighter with under 2 minutes left and Lloyd called for tripping as the Panthers jammed the crease. Midd controlled the faceoff and got Jones off for the 6th attacker. They peppering Murphy and buzzing about the crease until, with :15 to go Bielawski was called for roughing; the ensuing faceoff was in the Midd D zone and time expired for the 3-2 Amherst win.
Round 2 at 3 at Orr! An Amherst win gives them a commanding 2 game lead and the tie breaker (against Midd) in the NESCAC regular season race. Middlebury's play in coming back in the 3rd must have given them some confidence. Should be a good one.
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