Re: NESCAC 2017 to 2018
Some random thoughts (embodying many hockey clichés) on yesterday's 2-2 tie between Amherst (9-5-3, NESCAC 5-3-2) and Plattsburgh (15-2-1, NEWHL 10-0).
The Cardinals came off the bus flying, got the Mammoths back on their heels, but did not finish them off early. A third goal might have broken Amherst's will, but the goal never came and Amherst adopted the notion that (as in Pine Valley) 'we can play these gals' and were skating much better the last 10 minutes of the 1st. Brush forced a turnover in front of the Amherst bench, slipped a pass to Katonka, who found space into the high slot and beat Amherst goalie Plaman with a quick wrister up gloveside. Fast paced 1st with few whistles and lots of end to end action. Thank you St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence for such a judicious handling of the officiating!
Note to the rest of the NESCAC: Mammoths have a win and a tie with the national #1 and should not be overlooked as the regular season winds down.
Amherst had a great chance early in the 2nd with McNamara in on Plattsburgh goalie Abbott, dangling and then going just wide in her attempt to tuck the puck past Abbott at the stickside post. Plattsburgh mounted a sustained attack about 9:30 and Plaman had a spectacular series of stops before giving up the second Cardinal score. Corcoran passed left to D partner Flanagan (nice Cardinal career start with 7 points in 7 games); Flanagan's shot from the left point was deflected by Brush, positioned at Plaman's stickside, in under Plaman.
The 3rd featured solid goal play at both ends of the ice. Abbott was tested on a Toupal forehand at 4:30 and a Sauvage wrist shot from top of the left circle that she kicked out with her left pad. A rare, undisciplined elbow in neutral ice in transition resulted in an Amherst powerplay. Toupal moved the puck up the right half boards to Hunyadi; Hunyadi got her shot through and Griese dug the puck home from Abbott's gloveside. So, is a 2 goal lead the worst in hockey? Well in classic fashion, Mo returned to the Mammoth bench and things got interesting for the Amherst faithful (and by the by, kudos to the Cardinals and so many of their fans making the trip to Orr!). Minutes later Amherst netted another. Toupal came on ice, collected a loose puck in front of the Plattsburgh bench, and broke wide down left wing. Toupal was forced wide and shot from low in the left circle beat Abbott 5 hole. Toupal seems to define pesky sniper to me: great skater, making space from nothing, constantly flipping shots on net from all sorts of angles and unexpectedly sliding the puck to others in the kill zone.
The OT was skated 5x5, ECAC style. The Cardinals were mounting pressure as OT wore on and a penalty was called at 4:18. Coach Houle decided not to attack with an empty net (loss was bigger downside than the potential tie) and Plaman was strong in net as she withstood the onslaught and earned the 2-2 draw.
Plattsburgh has an off weekend before a trip back across the Lake Tuesday to visit another NESCAC foe at Kenyon.
Amherst resumes conference action with their visceral blood feud against Williams in a home and home opening at Orr Friday evening before moving up the Mohawk Trail to Williamstown Saturday evening.
