Game recap courtesy of Hamilton College
CLINTON, NY - The Hamilton College men's ice hockey team snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over visiting Tufts in NESCAC play Saturday night at Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink.
With the win the Continentals improve to 4-9-2 in the conference (5-12-3 overall) and pull to within a game of eighth place in the NESCAC standings. The top eight teams qualify for next month's league playoffs).
Zach Arnold made 32 saves to earn his first collegiate victory. He made 20 saves during the third period. The Jumbos had a man advantage for nearly 4:27 in the period.
The win gives Hamilton a sweep of the season series with Tufts (3-18-0, 1-14-0 NESCAC). The Continentals have won six of eight over the Jumbos and lead the all-time series 13-5.
Kenny Matheson scored the game's first goal and assisted on an empty net goal that gave Hamilton breathing room in the final minute of play. He opened the scoring at the 7:14 mark of the first period with his eighth goal, a booming slap shot from the right circle that beat Tufts goaltender Greg Jenkins to his stick side. Conor Lamberti and Jon Carkeek were credited with assists on the play.
Hamilton upped its lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal by Robbie Murden 4:51 into the second. Passes from Truman Landowski and Evan Haney set Murden up in the left circle, where he scored his team-leading 11th goal of the year on a wrist shot.
The Jumbos capitalized on their sixth power-play opportunity to cut into Hamilton's lead, scoring just four seconds before the Continentals returned to full strength. George Pantazopoulos set up in the left circle and connected with Luke Griffin in stride as Griffin came down the right side and put a shot between Arnold and the near post for his second goal of the year.
Tufts pulled Jenkins in favor of a sixth skater with 50 seconds left. Twenty-one seconds later the Jumbos called their time-out and the Continentals won the ensuing draw to set up their final goal. Matheson won the faceoff and sent the puck ahead to Dom Jancaterino, who found Pat Curtis across ice. Curtis' shot from center ice went just inside the far post to seal the win.
Jenkins finished with 27 saves for the Jumbos, who outshot Hamilton 33-30.
The Continentals play their final home game of the season Sunday, hosting Connecticut College at 3 pm. The Camels are currently in seventh place in the NESCAC standings. Tufts plays a 3 pm game at Amherst.
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