Courtesy Amherst Sports Information

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. – Top-seeded Amherst College played host to No. 2 Middlebury College this evening in the 2009 NESCAC Championship title game held at Orr Rink. Amherst never trailed during the game, and put in an empty-net score in the final minutes to win their first NESCAC Championship, 5-2. The Lord Jeffs take the NESCAC’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while Middlebury will await the release of the bracket tomorrow to see if they will receive an at-large bid.

Amherst went on the power play after just four minutes of first period action when Middlebury’s Tucker Donahoe (Canton, Mass.) was sent to the sin bin. The Lord Jeffs wasted no time pouncing on the Panthers, as junior Ted Vickers (Chilliwack, British Columbia) put home a power play score off a feed from senior captain Jeff Landers (Hanover, Mass.).

With 10:07 to play in the first period, Amherst doubled its lead on an amazing play by senior forward Brendan Powers (Walpole, Mass.). Powers stole an errant Middlebury pass and wrapped the puck around the right corner to classmate Joel Covelli (Carlisle, Ontario). Covelli then skated behind Middlebury's net, and found Powers streaking back down the middle for a one-timer.

Middlebury was given a golden chance to cut into Amherst’s lead with five minutes remaining in the first period, as Lord Jeff senior Will Collins (Edina, Minn.) was sent to the penalty box for holding. Just 42 seconds into the penalty kill, Amherst’s nation-leading unit was put to the test when a second Lord Jeff player sent to the penalty box. Middlebury needed just over half-a-minute, before Jamie McKenna (Lake Placid, N.Y.) set up his fellow co-captain Mason Graddock (Stowe, Vt.) for a slap shot that beat Cole Anderson (Sylvan Lake, Alberta) glove side on the 5-on-3.

Neither team scored again in the frame, and at the end of one, the statistics reflected a deadlock as Amherst held just a 14-13 edge in shots on goal.

Amherst opened back up a two-goal advantage just 30 seconds into the second period when Landers and rookie Eddie Effinger (Belleville, Ill.) combined to spring sophomore Luke Arnold (Lincoln, Mass.) down the middle. The sophomore sensation waited until he was on top of Raeder before lifting a shot top-corner to put Amherst ahead 3-1.

The Lord Jeffs went up 4-1 with 14:23 to play in the second period when Vickers scored an amazing behind-the-back, back-handed rebound goal on the power play. Powers and Landers picked up the assists on the score.

Throughout the final minutes of the second period, Anderson made save after save, as Middlebury picked up its pressure for a response to Amherst’s pair of early scores. That response never came for the Panthers, and at the end of two periods Middlebury held a 26-23 advantage in shots on goal, while Amherst still held a 4-1 lead on the scoreboard.

Middlebury grabbed one goal back from Amherst on the power play with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Junior John Sullivan (Delmar, N.Y.) put home the goal off an assist from Michael Kretschmer (Indianapolis, Ind.), cutting Amherst’s lead down to two goals.

With 2:33 remaining, Middlebury called Raeder to bench for an extra skater. The Lord Jeffs held strong, and added an empty-net score from Arnold with just 1:35 showing on the clock. The score cemented the result, putting Amherst back ahead 5-2.

After seeing sophomore goaltender Jonathan La Rose (Boyle, Alberta) pick up a shutout win in last night’s semifinal round, Amherst head coach Jack Arena ’83 turned to Anderson tonight. Anderson and Middlebury senior Doug Raeder (Needham, Mass.) finished the night with 35 saves apiece, as Amherst improved to 21-4-1, and Middlebury dropped to 19-7-1.

2009 NESCAC MEN’S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals - Saturday, Feb. 28 at Higher Seeds
at No. 1 Amherst 4, No. 8 Tufts 1
at No. 2 Middlebury 6, No. 7 Hamilton 2
at No. 3 Williams 3, No. 6 Bowdoin 2 - OT
at No. 4 Trinity 3, No. 5 Connecticut College 1

Semifinals - Friday, March 6 at Amherst
No. 2 Middlebury 4, vs. No. 3 Williams 1
at No. 1 Amherst 3, No. 4 Trinity 0

Championship - Saturday, March 7
at No. 1 Amherst 5, No. 2 Middlebury 2