Box Score BOX SCORE
HARTFORD, CT – Williams netted the first goal of the game, but Amherst answered with three unanswered tallies over the game's final 51:49 to defeat Williams 3-1 and advance to the NESCAC championship game tomorrow at Trinity College.
Amherst will face the winner of the Trinity vs. Bowdoin game that followed.
Andrew Kurlandski scored both Amherst third period goals on power plays in lifting the Lord Jeffs past Williams into the NESCAC title tilt.
With the loss the Ephs end their season with a record of 15-8-3, while Amherst upped their record to 16-7-3.
Eph freshman forward George Hunkele opened the scoring in the contest at 6:43 of the first period when he beat Amherst goalie Dave Cunningham. Senior captain Nick Anderson and junior Craig Kitto were credited with assists on the Hunkele even strength tally.
Amherst evened the scored just 88 seconds later when Conor Brown scored off a feed from Brian Safstrom at 8:11. The goal was an even strength score.
The first period ended with the score tied at one. Despite out shooting the Lord Jeffs 15-8 in the first period the Ephs were unable to light the red light more than once.
The second period featured a lot of back and forth action, but after 40 minutes of play the game remained deadlocked at one. Amherst had a slight advantage in play in the second stanza firing off 20 shots to the Ephs' 13.
In the third period Amherst benefitted from six Eph penalties and notched two power play goals to claim the victory.
The first Amherst tally came after the Ephs' Sam Gray was whistled for a 5-minute penalty for contact to the head and a game misconduct (10 minutes) at 4:10 of the period.
Amherst registered the game-winning goal out of the 6 on 4 advantage when Andrew Kurlandski beat Eph netminder Sean Dougherty at 6:36. The goal was Kurlandski's 10th of the year and it was assisted by Conor Brown and Jake Turrin.
It would be Kurlandski who would also provide the final score of the contest when he capitalized on a 6 on 5 Amherst power play at 16:55. Aaron Deutsch and Michael Cashman recorded assists on the Kurlandski insurance tally.
The Ephs pulled Dougherty with a minute to play, but Amherst's Cunningham turned aside every effort in ending the Eph season.
"It's always tough finishing the year with a loss," said Eph head coach Bill Kangas. "It was a good hockey game. We played well and we worked hard, but they converted on two power plays."
"I'm proud of all of our guys and it should be noted our seniors played in four straight final fours and they did a great job leading this team."
