Men’s hockey takes over first place in NESCAC

by Dave Meisel '13
SPORTS EDITOR

With an in-conference record of 9-4-4 following two 4-3 wins on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, the Hamilton men’s hockey team has taken the top spot in the NESCAC rankings. The men are poised to seize the top seed in the tournament, which will demand wins against University of Massachusetts-Boston and Babson in their final two games.

Hamilton can also grab the first seed through a variety of scenarios if the teams below them (Middlebury, Williams and Amherst) lose games, but they don’t need the help. Indeed, every team’s wish in the stretch run of a season is to control their own fate.

After falling behind 2-1 against St. Anselm on Feb. 11, goals from Nick Anderson ’14 and Phil DiDonato ’13 put the Continentals ahead 3-2. St. Anselm tied the score on an unassisted goal just over five minutes into the third period.

Things seemed bleak late in the third period when Joe Houk ’13 took a two-minute minor for cross-checking, but Anthony Ruberto ’13 netted a clutch shorthanded goal with just 2:57 remaining, and the Continentals held on for the win.

The following day, the Continentals trumped New England College by the same score. Goals from Ruberto, Houk and Drew Jelinek ’13 gave the Continentals a 3-1 lead in the first period. New England could never quite come back. After a second-period goal, Hamilton responded with a goal by Anthony Scarpino ’12 to make it 4-2. New England scored again in the middle of the third period, but again, the Continentals locked down late in the game for a win.

Such clutch wins have been a trademark of the Continentals’ 2010-2011 season. Even more impressive is their current run–they haven’t lost in almost a month and have just two losses in the year 2011. Their record in this year is 7-2-4, and their overall record stands at 12-6-4.

While Hamilton’s success has been a result of a great team effort, three Continentals have excelled on an individual level – Joe Houk is fourth in the NESCAC with 28 points, and second in the conference in goals (16). Michael DiMare ’14 is ninth in the conference in points with 22 (11 goals, 11 assists) and Joe Buicko, senior captain and the heart and soul of Hamilton’s team, is tied for 15th in points with 20. His 15 assists are fourth-highest in the NESCAC.

Their final two games come on the road against UMass Boston and Babson this Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19.