MIDDLETOWN, CT – Despite a goal from Matt Vander Vort, the Amherst men's ice hockey team suffered their third loss of the year against Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 22. In the final game of their season-opening 3-game road trip, the Mammoths couldn't convert shots to goals and fell by a score of 2-1.  

With the loss, the Mammoths fall to 1-2 on the season while the Cardinals improve to 2-2. Amherst will return home for the first time this season for their first non-conference matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Orr Rink will play host to Saint Michael's College, with the Mammoths looking to right the ship against Purple Knights at 3 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Though the Mammoths took most of the shots in the early going, it was the Cardinals who scored first. With Wesleyan forechecking in the Mammoths' zone, Amherst attempted to clear the puck around the boards, but it skittered to the Cardinals' Jack Marottolo. The Wesleyan man fired a one-timer that took everyone off guard and slid in behind goaltender Vincent Lamberti to give the Cardinals the 1-0 lead 3 minutes into the game.
 
* Amherst took control from there, taking the next 11 straight shots on the way to finding the equalizer. With under a minute to go, the Mammoths took the puck back in their defensive zone and went on the break. A breakout pass from Caden Olenczak was fired off the boards and helped on by Oliver Flynn, to Josh Burke on the odd man rush. Burke drew the defender and slipped the puck to Matt Vander Vort, who netted the breakaway opportunity to tie the score at 1-1 heading into the second period.
 
* The Mammoths continued to pressure, but again it was the Cardinals that put one on the score board next. This time, it was on the power play, as Wesleyan was able to take advantage of the man-up opportunity, find the open player crashing the net in transition and retake the lead at 2-1 with 8:07 left in the second period.
 
* That score held into the third period, and like the day prior, Lamberti came up big in the final period to keep the game winnable, as the first year stuffed Wesleyan's Jack Bosco on a breakaway chance and made the easy saves needed to maintain the 1-goal deficit. And like in the second period, the Mammoths dominated the shot opportunities but were unable to convert on the offensive end.
* That trend continued later in the period, as Amherst took shot after shot but Wesleyan netminder Ethan Fehrenbaker was up the the challenge every time. With the Amherst net empty with two minutes to go, the Cardinals had a chance to ice the game, but the shot was blocked by a diving Ray Hou, keeping the Mammoths' hopes alive. Ultimately though, it wasn't enough, as the final horn blew, and Wesleyan walked away with a 2-1 win.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
*  Despite the lack of scoring, the Mammoths didn't have a problem getting shots off, outshooting the Cardinals 72-30 overall and 40-17 in shots on goal.

* Vander Vort's goal was his first of the year, while Burke's assist means he now has logged a point in all three games this season.

* Lamberti made 15 saves on the day.