AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomore center Matt Toporowski scored the game-winning goal in overtime and assisted on two others to complete a comeback from a two-goal deficit and lift the Amherst College men's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win over Little Three rival Wesleyan University in NESCAC action on Friday evening at Orr Rink.

The Mammoths improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-0-0 in NESCAC play as Head Coach Jack Arena '83 earned his 499th career win. The Cardinals fell to 4-1-0 overall and 2-1-0 in NESCAC play.

The Mammoths are back in action tomorrow (Sat., Dec. 3) at 3pm, hosting defending NESCAC champion Trinity at Orr Rink.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* After a scoreless first period, the Cardinals struck twice in quick succession midway through the second, scoring a pair of goals 56 seconds apart. Senior winger Colin Cobb put Wesleyan on the board, scoring his first goal of the season off a face-off win by senior center Wiggle Kerbrat at the 11:44 mark.

* Less than a minute later, the Cardinals had numbers in front of the goal and after a pair of failed shot attempts, senior defenseman Emmet Powell swooped in to net his second goal of the season.

* The score remained 2-0 in Wesleyan's favor until late in the third period. With less than four minutes to go, Toporowski gained control of the puck from a tie-up along the boards behind the Amherst net. He passed to sophomore winger Ben Kuzma, who skated end-to-end, beating a Wesleyan defender and scoring his sixth goal in the last four games at the 16:43 mark.

* The Mammoths were still trailing with less than two minutes to go. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, senior center Michael Pitts won a face-off, getting the puck to senior captain Joey Verkerke. Verkerke passed to Toporowski, who fired a shot that was redirected in front of the net by junior winger Quinton Fox, who netted his second goal of the season at the 18:31 mark.

* Toporowski's game-winner came 3:56 into the overtime period. With plenty of open ice in the three-on-three overtime, Toporowski maneuvered through the defenders and fired a shot from the high slot to end the game with his second tally of the season.



BY THE NUMBERS:

* Toporowski was involved in all three goals in the game matching a career high with three points and extending his point streak to four games.

* The Mammoths outshot the Cardinals by a 32-21 margin in the game, including a 13-5 advantage in the third period and a 4-0 edge in overtime.

* Both sides were perfect on the penalty kill as Amherst killed off all four of its penalties and Wesleyan did not allow a goal on its lone penalty.

* The Mammoths held a 42-23 advantage in face-offs as Pitts won 13 and Toporowski won 12 draws.