Box Score Amherst, MA – As fate would have it, the first round of NESCAC playoffs pitted bitter rivals, #3 Amherst College and #6 Williams College, in the match up of the season for the Ephs. On the back of a huge second quarter goal-scoring run, the Mammoths would defeat the Ephs by a score of 11-7.
Trying to play spoiler, the Ephs would jump out to an early lead just five minutes into the game. Nolan Coleen would get the scoring started on his first collegiate goal, with
Pearse Glavin drawing the assist.
Calvin Caputo would find the back of the net off a feed from
Jake Haase before
Pearse Glavin would score one of his own to cap off the opening quarter scoring for the Ephs. Amherst would tally three in the first as the two teams entered the second quarter level.
Haase and Caputo would connect yet again, giving the Ephs another one goal lead just three minutes into the second frame. However, Amherst would inevitably be the team gaining the momentum going into the locker room, as they would answer with four straight goals, including two in the final twelve seconds of the half. The Ephs had opportunities throughout the quarter, but Amherst netminder Mitch Likins was able to shut the door, tallying six saves in the quarter and nine on the half.
The Mammoths would not settle for their three-goal lead, putting home three more in the third quarter to extend their total to ten on the day.
Jesse Shapiro would cut the deficit with a man-up goal midway through the quarter, but the damage had been done.
Amherst would add one more, before
Jack Sercu would score his fifth goal of the year for the Ephs with just two minutes remaining in the contest. He would score again just a minute a half later off a feed from
Calvin Caputo, despite the Ephs being a man down for a slashing penalty. Ultimately the Williams offensive chances late in the game would come up short, as the Amherst College Mammoths would move on to the next round.
Coach
George McCormack spoke about the season saying, "I'm very proud of our seniors and the leadership they showed all year. Big wins over RPI and Wesleyan exemplified the talent and toughness that this team possesses. We are sad to say goodbye to our seniors but we are also optimistic about our returning players and incoming freshman class."
