I know everyone thinks their conference is the most competitive, but as we close out the 2nd weekend of NESCAC play, it sure looks like you had better bring your "A" game any time you take the ice in this conference.
Lots of great action this weekend. I saw Conn College trail Hamilton 3-1 and then come back to tie on an extra attacker goal when Coach Steele aggressively rolled the dice with 2 minutes left in regulation. The NESCAC 4x4 format for OT then resulted in confusion on the timing of Continental penalties in extra time, but Hamilton escaped with the tie. Amherst saw Wesleyan give them a tussle Saturday afternoon at Orr Arena. The Lord Jeffs led 2-0 early with Salmon showing why she probably has the best hands in the NESCAC. First goal she won the draw in the right circle to Toupal on the half board; she passed back to Smith at right point and her drive rebounded to Salmon who backhanded the puck up and in. Minutes later Salmon forechecked as Wesleyan was breaking out from deep in their gloveside corne, curled across the slot on her forehand and Toupal deftly inserted her shot 5 hole from the top of the crease for the 2-0 advantage. The Cardinals got on the board on the powerplay with Schildhaus working behind the Amherst goal line, getting the puck to Jankowski, who was able to score from an extreme angle coming out from Lord Jeff goalie Evans stickside. Tank then made it 3-1 with a goal from in close. Wesleyan then converted a powerplay seconds before Amherst had killed a 5x3 at the end of the 2nd, with Wasnick jamming one home, assists to Schildhaus and Jankowski. The lone score of the 3rd came when Schildhaus grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone and flipped a long, high floater that eluded Evans' and tied the game at 3-3. The game winner came on the powerplay when Salmon fed E. Martin at right point. The 4x3 open ice gave her an open look drive that was kicked out into the high slot, Smith swooped in and buried a one timer up.
A quick run back to Hartford afforded the opportunity to take in the Panthers visiting the Bantams. Middlebury roared out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Bielawski and Sherman in the first 4 minutes, only to see Trinity answer with 2 goals in less than a minute. Farrell collected a D zone turnover and walked into the slot unchecked, beating Jones with a laser up to her gloveside. Then Herr jammed home a powerplay chance from Jones' stickside with the heavy work behind the net by Finn and Fitzgerald. Sherman then scored her 2nd of the wild 1st period to make it 3-2. Early in the 2nd Tani scored unassisted on a nice backhand form the left of the crease. The eventual game winner came when Farrell broke in 2x1 with Fitzgerald on her left. Farrell took her time and then deftly fed left to the uncheck Fitzgerald for the one timer score. Hats off to Trinity for circling the wagons after trailing by 2 early. They worked hard and were winning the one on one battles consistently in the 3rd and showing impressive speed on there breakouts.
Rematch today at 4 if you are in the Hartford area.
