WATERVILLE, ME. – Two first period goals were not enough as the Amherst College men's ice hockey team lost its first NESCAC contest of the new year on Friday, Jan. 10. Traveling to Maine for a conference double header, the Mammoths took on Colby, who netted a shorthanded game winner to sink the away side, 3-2.

With the loss, the Mammoths fall to 5-5-1, while the Mules improve to 9-2-1 this season. Amherst will play the second game of their NESCAC weekend in less than 24 hours, facing Bowdoin on Saturday, Jan. 11. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* The Mules came out of the locker room hot, netting just 1:04 into the contest to take an early 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game. This started a stretch in which Colby dominated the offensive opportunities, firing off five shots in the next 2:30.
 
* The Mammoths settled into the contest after that, finding their footing and firing pucks on net. This effort paid off about halfway through the period, as Jacob Pohl scored his first of the season off a pass from Max Thiessen to tie the game.
 
* Then, it was Amherst's turn to score quickly, with Oliver Flynn netting his first goal as a Mammoth just a minute and a half later. The sophomore tallied off assists from Ben Kuzma and Zachary Murray to give the Mammoths their first lead of the game at 2-1. However, the Mules would even the score before the end of the first period, and the two teams went into the break tied at 2-2.
 
* That scoreline remained until the 5:34 mark of the final period. With the Mammoths on a power play, the Mules found an opening and pushed a shorthanded opportunity past sophomore goalie Andrew Palena to retake the advantage. Despite opportunities to tie the game late, the Amherst was unable to convert and the score remained 3-2 at the final horn.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* Amherst led 35-19 in shots on goal in the contest.
 
* Murray was dominant at the dot for the Mammoths, winning 13 of the 22 faceoffs he took.
 
* Palena made 16 saves on the day.