Box Score
MALDEN – The Tufts men's hockey team opened up the scoring on Saturday night, but the Jumbos weren't able to hold on to the lead, falling to Amherst, 4-2, at the Malden Valley Forum. Sophomore Nick Flanagan and junior Patrick Lackey were the goal scorers for the Jumbos, while sophomore Chad Goldberg picked up his fourth assist of the week and now has a four-game point streak going.
Will Vosejpka scored twice and assisted another for Amherst, who moved to 4-5-4 overall with a 3-2-3 record in NESCAC play. The Jumbos snapped a five game unbeaten streak, and are now 5-5-3 overall with a 1-4-2 mark in NESCAC play.
The Jumbos opened up scoring in the contest as Amherst's Topher Flanagan was sent to the penalty box for slashing eight minutes into the first period, and the Jumbos were able to capitalize on the man-up opportunity. Flanagan scored his fourth of the season as Goldberg and sophomore Brian Brown picked up assists on the score.
Things happened similarly for the Purple and White on their first score. The Jumbo's Jefferson Martin was called for hooking, and Amherst's Patrick Mooney tied the contest at one just over 15 minutes into the period with the power play goal. Theo Hannah and David White were credited with the helpers.
The Purple and White would take the 2-1 lead just about three minutes later when Austin Ho unleashed a slap shot at the net that deflected off the stick of Vosejpka and past the Jumbos net minder, sophomore Nik Nugnes, to give the visitors the one goal advantage to take into the first intermission.
Amherst came out strong in the second period, as they had a one man advantage to start the period because of a penalty called on junior Matt Pugh at the end of the first period. Senior Dom Granato got sent to the penalty box, giving the Purple and White a five-on-three advantage. The Jumbos were able to squash the five-on-three for the 30 seconds, and Pugh returned to the ice. But, with the man advantage, Patrick Arena made it 3-1 with his first goal of the season. Assists went to Vosejpka and David White.
The Jumbos made it 3-2 with junior Patrick Lackey's third goal of the season just over halfway through the second period. Junior Sean Kavanagh and freshman Jefferson Martin picked up assists on the score. The Jumbos would have an opportunity to tie the game just over 12 minutes into the second period when Thomas Lindstrom was sent to the box for high-sticking. But, the Jumbos were not able to score, and just about a minute later the Purple and White's Phil Johansson and the Jumbo's Clay Berger were called for coincidental penalties for roughing. The Jumbos had a four-on-three advantage for just under a minute, but weren't able to score.
With both Johansson and Berger both still in the box, the Purple and White's Vosejpka scored an even four-on-four goal to extend their lead, 4-2. Kevin Ryder and Mooney picked up assists on the score.
The third period was pretty even in puck possession, but the Jumbos were able to take a slight advantage in shots on goal, 7-4. Down by two scores they pulled Nugnes to leave an empty net for the last 1:41, but the Jumbos weren't able to get the puck past Amherst's Dave Cunningham and the Purple and White hung on for the 4-2 win.
Amherst finished with the advantage in shots on goal, 31-21. The Jumbos were 1-for-4 on power play opportunities, while the visitors were 2-for-4 on their man up chances. Nugnes finished with 27 saves in the loss, while Cunningham picked up the win, making 19 saves for the Purple and White.
Amherst will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Connecticut College for a 3 pm start. The Jumbos are back at home at the Malden Valley Forum on Sunday afternoon with a 4 pm scheduled puck drop with Hamilton.
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