Sports

Hockey looks ahead to NESCAC playoffs

By Patrick Malin ’18

February 10, 2015

Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams have had busy weeks, playing four games apiece as each team attempts to make a late-season push for the NESCAC playoffs. Both teams headed into the week feeling confident coming off impressive wins against talented opponents.

On Jan. 23 and 24, the women’s team hosted the Trinity Bantams in a double header at Sage Rink. During the first game, Samantha Walther ’18 held the Bantams scoreless, preserving the 2-0 victory and recording her second shut-out of the season. Goals by Hannah Bartlett ’16 and Mairead Carey ’18 led the Continentals to victory despite only having 13 shots on goal compared to Trinity’s 29. The following day, the Bantams avenged their loss and blanked the Continentals 4-0. The women’s team held off Trinity for the first and most of the second period, but gave up three goals in the third period as Trinity pulled away with a victory.

This past weekend, the women’s team traveled to Vermont to take on the Middlebury Panthers in a doubleheader with games on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, Middlebury came out on top in both games, beating the Continentals 2-0 and 3-1, and showing why they rank as the fourth best team in Division III. With two defeats against Middlebury, the Continentals fell to 7-8-3 overall on the season, with a NESCAC record of 1-7-2.

“This past week of games has given our team some key learning experiences to move forward with in the season.  We faced some tough teams and were able to outwork and outplay them, generate a win, and also stick together as a relentlessly competitive unit,” said Katie Parkman ’17, who leads the Continentals in points, goals and assists.

The women’s team will take on Wesleyan at home this weekend and then will travel to Brunswick, Maine to play the Bowdoin Polar Bears the following weekend. The Continentals will conclude their season with a doubleheader at home against Colby on Feb. 21 and 22.

“From the beginning of the season up until this point our level of competition and desire to win has continued to build up, which is exactly what we need coming into the last few weeks.  The remaining games are vital in securing our spot in playoffs, and I expect great success from this team” Parkman said.

In a rematch of the season opener, the men’s team took on Amherst, a team that ranks 12th in the nation in Division III. Despite a strong effort by goaltender Evan Buitenhuis ’18 and a third period goal by Brad Smelstor ’17, the Continentals failed to complete a comeback, losing by a final tally of 3-1.

The next day the Continentals took on Franklin Pierce at Sage Rink. In a dominating performance, Hamilton won the game 4-0, with goaltender Tim Nowacki ’18 recording his first shutout of the season and his career. The Continentals outshot the Ravens 52-12, with two goals coming from Tyler Bruneteau ’18 in the first period to set the tone for the emphatic Continentals’ victory. Neil Conway ’18 put in his first goal of the season in the second period, and Robbie Murden ’17 put the game further out of reach with a goal in the third period.

This past weekend, the men’s team played two tough games at home against Wesleyan and No. 3 ranked, Trinity College. The game against Wesleyan was filled with constant momentum swings over the entirety of the three periods. Goals by Conway and Murden in the first period put the Continentals in a favorable position, but Wesleyan stormed back with three straight goals to take the 3-2 lead almost halfway through the third period. After a Wesleyan penalty, Tyler Lovejoy ’16 netted the equalizing goal, followed up by another power play goal by Murden to put the Continentals in front 4-3. Joe Rausch ’15 put the game away with an empty net goal, sealing the Hamilton victory with a final score of 5-3. “ It was a hard fought win and a big two points for us in the standings,” said captain Kenny Matheson ’16.

The Continentals fought for all three periods against Trinity, but ended up falling to the Bantams 6-1, with the lone goal coming from Murden in the third period, his team leading 11th goal of the year. “There were a lot of positives from the weekend.  We battled from behind to win against Wesleyan in the 3rd period and we played 50 minutes of really good hockey against #3 Trinity,” said Head Coach Rob Haberbusch.

After going 2-2 for the week, the men’s team has an overall record of 7-7-4, with a conference record of 5-5-2 heading into the final three weeks of the season and is currently in fifth place in the NESCAC standings. “The team has shown a lot of resiliency and character this season.  We’ve been a strong team defensively all season and we’ve steadily improved our offense.  We’re aiming for a first-round home ice playoff spot and a chance to compete for the NESCAC Championship,” Coach Haberbusch said.

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