NESCAC 2016-2017 season

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season, we now can get back to hard core conference action. Still trying to separate contenders and pretenders, but some answers may come this weekend with Amherst at Middlebury, Williams at Bowdoin, Conn College at Trinity and Wesleyan at Colby (Hamilton is playing in the DoubleTree Classic against Sacred Heart and Plymouth State).
Watched the Panthers let one slip away last evening at Kenyon. Middlebury had the better of the play, building a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Wulf and a classic Winslow goal on a feed from Young (carbon copy of the play that won last season's NESCAC final). Panther goalie Han made several jaw dropping saves keeping Elmira off the board, but Soaring Eagle goalie Nelson was equally strong. A powerplay late in the 3rd energized Elmira and they scored :10 after Midd returned to full strength. Coach Crowley got the extra attacker on and ground out a second goal for the tie (apologies to the Soaring Eagle scorers, but in neither instance could I accurately describe the plays). The OT, which was skated 4x4, did not produce a winner.

 

[bearcat]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season, we now can get back to hard core conference action. Still trying to separate contenders and pretenders, but some answers may come this weekend with Amherst at Middlebury, Williams at Bowdoin, Conn College at Trinity and Wesleyan at Colby (Hamilton is playing in the DoubleTree Classic against Sacred Heart and Plymouth State).
Watched the Panthers let one slip away last evening at Kenyon. Middlebury had the better of the play, building a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Wulf and a classic Winslow goal on a feed from Young (carbon copy of the play that won last season's NESCAC final). Panther goalie Han made several jaw dropping saves keeping Elmira off the board, but Soaring Eagle goalie Nelson was equally strong. A powerplay late in the 3rd energized Elmira and they scored :10 after Midd returned to full strength. Coach Crowley got the extra attacker on and ground out a second goal for the tie (apologies to the Soaring Eagle scorers, but in neither instance could I accurately describe the plays). The OT, which was skated 4x4, did not produce a winner.

Fearless Weekend predictions...

Amherst at Middlebury [3 points for Middy]
Williams at Bowdoin [Split]
Conn College at Trinity [3 points for the Camels]
Wesleyan at Colby [Cardinals sweep the Mules to grab the 8th slot]

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

I am chicken and here are the guesses for this evening: Hamilton over Sacred Heart, Conn wins this afternoon at Trinity, Middlebury takes round 1 with the Purple and White and the Polar Bears win in Watson and the Cardinals get off the bus and win against the Mules.

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Did anyone watch the Conn-Trinity game? Must have been a good one.

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Typically intense Amherst-Middlebury skating match this evening at Kenyon. Congratulations should go to both Purple and White goalie Plaman and Panther goalie Neuberger for outstanding play. The game opened with 3 minutes of back and forth action resulting in no shots for either squad, but Amherst was starting to get the puck to the net and pressuring Neuberger. An ensuing P&W powerplay produced the first score. Culhane got the puck to Eickhoff who had space moving out from the left to the top of the left circle for a shot which tested Neuberger to make a nice left pad save, however Savage was there for the put back beneath Neuberger to put Amherst up 1-0. The Panthers answered with a powerplay of their own late in the period. Wulf dug the puck out in the right corner to Young; Young walked into a seam in the right circle and connected across with an open Winslow at the left dot for a one time blast in over the moving Plaman. The 2nd saw both goalies trading strong efforts. Early Plaman made a nice glove grab of a Sherman tip on a Winslow shot from the high slot. Plaman then robbed Winslow when she looped in with Young and Winslow had an open shot from the right dot at about 7: Neuberger made a nice catch of a Savage shot from low left circle at 18:24. Neuberger was strong early in the 3rd, stuffing Hunyadi at the top of the crease and following with a nifty series of stops. The game winner was a pretty goal. Hlinka broke out of the Midd D zone up the right boards, sent the puck left to Winslow; Winslow spotted Young open racing in on right wing, fed across and Young ripped a one timer beneath Plaman from the right dot. Coach Matthews got the extra attacker on the ice and as that took place Amherst developed a 2x1 with Neuberger aggressively defending her stickside post. Seconds later Marotta ground the puck up the right D zone boards and sprang Winslow down right wing for the empty netter and the 3-1 final score.
Rematch tomorrow at 3.

 

[tjoneslo]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Well, that's sort of an interesting twist.

Middlebury / Amherst second game on Saturday afternoon ends in a tie. The Amhert play style reminds me a great deal of the Plattsburg style. They play fast and aggressive, especially in the offensive end. I saw Middlebury on several occasions in both games struggle to get the puck out of their own end against the relentless forecheck and good pass interceptions of the Amherst squad.

So the outcome of the Conn College / Trinity game was to determine the NESCAC First place. Conn college wins, they take first and can determine their fate. Loose and they are second. And the same is postponed due to weather.

 

[bearcat]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

there's a lot of season left to be calling the season at this point. Trinity is better than everyone thinks...Bowdoin and Hamilton are still pretenders until they beat a ranked team...ditto for Williams.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

there's a lot of season left to be calling the season at this point. Trinity is better than everyone thinks...Bowdoin and Hamilton are still pretenders until they beat a ranked team...ditto for Williams.

Well, you can't argue that if Conn College wins the rest of their games they win the league - that's just the math. And they have already been through Middlebury and Amherst. But I do agree that it is unlikely that Conn will sweep their way through the remaining 9 games - Trinity (1 game), Bowdoin, Williams, Wesleyan, Colby would be my order of most likely to beat them once. Williams in particular have generally had their number for at least 1 win the last 3 years (swept them last year when Conn had their best season of the last 3).

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Anyone plan to attend the Conn-Bowdoin game Thursday at Fenway? Forecast is rain free but in the 50 degree range. Any expert opinion on potential ice problems? Hope to see you there!

 

[Genbeau]

Anyone plan to attend the Conn-Bowdoin game Thursday at Fenway? Forecast is rain free but in the 50 degree range. Any expert opinion on potential ice problems? Hope to see you there!

Not going to the game but it's Bowdoin in the petite upset 2-1. Anyone know how they choose the teams to play there? Lottery, bid, etc...?

 

[CrossCheck]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Anyone plan to attend the Conn-Bowdoin game Thursday at Fenway? Forecast is rain free but in the 50 degree range. Any expert opinion on potential ice problems? Hope to see you there!

Yes. Should be a good game...unless it rains. Not sure if they'd play in a downpour.

If it is 50 degrees, that would not be a problem for the ice.

 

[CrossCheck]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Well, you can't argue that if Conn College wins the rest of their games they win the league - that's just the math. And they have already been through Middlebury and Amherst. But I do agree that it is unlikely that Conn will sweep their way through the remaining 9 games - Trinity (1 game), Bowdoin, Williams, Wesleyan, Colby would be my order of most likely to beat them once. Williams in particular have generally had their number for at least 1 win the last 3 years (swept them last year when Conn had their best season of the last 3).

Actually, it's just as likely they will sweep the rest of their conf schedule as it would be for Midd or Ammy to do so...That's just the math.

That said, my point is this is the nescac...other than Colby, every team in the conf has a .500 record or better [for all you nescac haters...lol]. So upsets are part of the deal, which is why it's still too early to be predicting a #1 seed.

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Castleton scores on a clean break and is sort of outplaying Conn except the Spartans game seems to include checking which the refs have overlooked so far. Conn grinds out a goal with 3.5 left in 2nd. 1-1 end 2

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Perhaps things are looking up for the Polar Bears in their Frozen Fenway (mid 50s and rain?) date with the Camels?

 

[CrossCheck]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Perhaps things are looking up for the Polar Bears in their Frozen Fenway (mid 50s and rain?) date with the Camels?

Shots were something like 55-21 in favor of Conn...with those numbers, Castleton was very lucky to not get blown out. That said, the Camels are really having problems scoring...only 3 goals in last 3 games. Too many here with solid career numbers who have contributed next to nothing on the scoresheet and we're 11 games in. Time to wake up and get going.

 

[GTOWN]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Saw most of the game, it wasn't as lopsided as the shot count would indicate. Castleton held their own and outplayed Conn for certain stretches of the game.

 

[obserbear]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Weird flow to the game. Conn dominated at times, possessing the puck in the Castleton zone for long stretches. The Camels came out flying in the 2nd, and I was just waiting for an offensive outburst. Strangely, after their powerplay in the 2nd, they never seemed to get back to the pitch they opened the period with. The Camel goal (which was a super effort getting the puck to the net with time expiring) should have lifted their effort coming out for the 3rd. Kudos to Castleton; Willis played great goal, and they were largely able to play good D and control play in front of the crease, and they got that nifty break away goal from Trivino.

 

[GTOWN]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Clearly I'm biased (my kid is on the Castleton team) but they've had a tough sched so far: Oswego, Norwich, UMass, Platty, Middlebury, Endicott, Conn College, all ranked top 10 at some point this season.

I think they're better than their record. Not top 10 but better than other schools showing better records. Clearly the goal is to play with the big guns, just not quite there yet.

 

[CrossCheck]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Clearly I'm biased (my kid is on the Castleton team) but they've had a tough sched so far: Oswego, Norwich, UMass, Platty, Middlebury, Endicott, Conn College, all ranked top 10 at some point this season.

I think they're better than their record. Not top 10 but better than other schools showing better records. Clearly the goal is to play with the big guns, just not quite there yet.

I was also at the game and agree with obserbear's comments...Castleton is a decent team [better than their record for sure], but IMO they were better last year. Conn should have won the game by a couple goals [3-1, or 4-1 IMO]. They usually breakout of their own end cleanly and they are fast and forecheck hard...as a result, they often possess the puck for long stretches but do absolutely nothing with it...they pass around the perimeter and settle for long shots, often from bad angles with no traffic in front ...Rarely do they make a goalie move to make a save and they don't use their points nearly enough [that's why you see 40 and 55 shot games with only 1 goal to show for it].

 

[GTOWN]

Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season

Don't dispute they were a better team last year (lets start with an All American goalie in Cameron). I just think they've had a tougher go at it given their strength of schedule so far. the back half looks easier so hopefully their record bounces back a little.

I was down earlier in the season for the weekend and someone associated with the team was very pragmatic about who they are/want to be: they're clearly not top 10 but want to be in the next 10 consistently.