Contact: Justin Long
AMHERST, Mass. – Mark Colp '12 recorded a goal and two assists and goaltender Jonathan La Rose '12 came up with pivotal saves in the final minute of regulation to lead the 14th-ranked Amherst College men's hockey team to a 5-4 win over 12th-ranked Williams College Friday night at Orr Rink.
Friday's matchup featured two of the best goaltenders in Division III, but each team was on the board in the first 3:24 of the opening period. Amherst took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission and added two goals early in the third period, while Williams scored twice on the power play in the final five minutes but could not complete the comeback.
The Lord Jeffs improved to 6-1-0 overall and moved into sole possession of first place in the NESCAC with a 4-0-0 conference record, while the Ephs dropped to 4-1-2 on the season (3-1-1 NESCAC). Friday marked the third time in as many years Amherst handed Williams its first loss of the season.
Amherst has now won five consecutive meetings with Williams, as La Rose (5-0-0) improved to 3-0-0 all-time against the Ephs after making 22 saves tonight. Ryan Purdy '12 also made 22 stops in net for the Ephs, dropping him to 3-1-2 on the year. Eric Rubino '13 and Evan Dugdale '13 were each credited with a goal and an assist for Williams.
The Jeffs struck first at 2:49 when sophomore Ryan Edwards sent a pass from behind the net along the boards to Jeremy Deutsch '12. All alone in front of the blue line on the right wing, Deutsch placed a slapshot into the upper corner on Purdy's stick side, handing the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
Williams answered 35 seconds later when Rubino was credited with an unassisted goal. After collecting a loose puck in the neutral zone, Rubino skated ahead and delivered a shot from the point. La Rose was in position but couldn't come up with the save, as the puck trickled by him to tie the game at 1-1.
The Ephs took a 2-1 lead at 11:30 on a beautiful goal from senior defenseman Patrick Morrissey. After receiving a pass on the left wing, Morrissey took his time and lined up a shot that snuck inside the post on La Rose's glove side. The Amherst goalie was screened on the play and had no chance of making a save on what was a perfectly-placed shot by Morrissey.
Amherst took control and scored the next four goals of the game, beginning when Colp tied things up at 2-2 at 14:00 of the first period on a deflection that went between Purdy's legs. The first two penalties of the game were called against the Ephs at 19:00 and 19:52, and the Jeffs capitalized on the 5-on-3 situation when Jamie Hawkrigg '13 put home a rebound with only two seconds remaining in the period, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead heading into the first intermission.
Each team was 0-for-1 on the power play during a scoreless second period, as La Rose made three saves and Purdy came up with eight.
The Jeffs came out gunning in the third period, adding what proved to be pivotal insurance goals at 0:31 and 4:43. The first came from Mike Moher '13, who put home a rebound after an initial shot by Colp. First-year Mike Cashman set up the eventual game winner when he carried the puck up the left wing and held on for as long as he could before finding Dylan Trumble '13, who put home a one-timer from right in front of the net to give Amherst a 5-2 lead with 15:17 to play.
The momentum shifted after Williams called a timeout at 4:49, as the Ephs were 2-for-3 on the power play and held a 16-6 advantage in shots on goal in the third period. Senior defenseman Justin Troiani cut his team's deficit to two at 15:42 when he put home a loose puck, with the assist going to Rubino.
Amherst entered the game with one of the best penalty-kill units in the country, but the Ephs again scored on the man-advantage at 18:15 when Dugdale finished off a pass from first-year defenseman David Jarrett. Williams pulled Purdy with 1:09 to play but could not find a fifth goal, as La Rose came up with two tremendous saves in the final minute to preserve the win.
With Middlebury's 3-0 loss to Hamilton tonight, the Lord Jeffs are the only NESCAC team without a conference loss on the young season.
The Jeffs and Ephs will meet again on Feb. 18 in Williamstown during the final weekend of the regular season. Both teams will return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m., with Amherst set to host eighth-ranked Middlebury and the Ephs traveling to take on Hamilton.
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