Men's & Women's Ice Hockey Championships Game Times Announced

Amherst to Host Final Rounds of Both Men’s & Women’s Ice Hockey Championships

HADLEY, Mass. - Amherst College, the top seed in both the 2009 NESCAC Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Championships, will host the semifinals and final for both tournaments next weekend at Orr Rink in Amherst, Mass. The championship game schedule has been adjusted for both events, with the semifinals of the Men’s Championship moved to Friday, March 6 at 4:00 and 7:30 p.m. The semifinals for the Women’s Championship will remain on Saturday, March 7, but will take place at 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Men’s final will occur on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., while the Women’s title tilt will get underway at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.

Top-seeded Amherst (19-4-1, 16-2-1 NESCAC) used a four-goal third period to dispatch eighth-seeded Tufts on Saturday afternoon during a 4-1 decision. The victory extended the Lord Jeffs’ current winning streak to 11 games, as they have scored four or more goals in each of their eight previous outings, and also tied the program mark for victories in a season with 19 (1998-99). Amherst will face defending NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Champion Trinity (16-8-0, 12-7-0 NESCAC) during Friday’s second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. The fourth-seeded Bantams earned a 3-1 decision over fifth-seeded Connecticut College on Saturday afternoon to snap a brief two-game losing streak. The regular season meeting between the two squads may seem like forever ago, as Amherst earned a 5-3 win over Trinity in Hartford, Conn. during the season-opener on Nov. 21. Before the Jeffs and Bantams tangle, second-seeded Middlebury (18-6-1, 14-4-1 NESCAC) will battle travel partner and third-seeded Williams (15-8-2, 12-5-2 NESCAC) in the first semifinal. The Panthers rolled to a 6-2 victory over seventh-seeded Hamilton in the quarterfinals, while the Ephs needed overtime to get past sixth-seeded Bowdoin, 3-2. Middlebury has won seven of the previous nine NESCAC titles. Williams, on the other hand, is making its first semifinal appearance since the 2000 tournament in which the Ephs reached the championship game but fell to the Panthers in overtime, 3-2. This season, the two teams tied on the ice, 4-4 on Jan. 13 in Middlebury, Vt.

In the Women’s Championship, top-seeded Amherst (20-4-0, 16-0-0 NESCAC) recorded its 20th win of the season by overcoming an early 1-0 deficit to eighth-seeded Hamilton (9-14-2, 3-11-2 NESCAC) and scoring seven unanswered goals in a 7-1 victory. The two-time defending NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Champions will take on sixth-seeded Connecticut College (9-13-3, 6-8-2 NESCAC) after the Camels upended third-seeded Trinity 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. The win put Connecticut College in the semifinals for the first time in tournament history. Amherst and Connecticut College met only one week ago to close out the regular season, with the Jeffs taking the home-and-home series 6-0 on Feb. 21 in New London, Conn. and 1-0 on Feb. 22 in Amherst, Mass. The other semifinal will be a rematch from a year ago when fourth-seeded Colby (12-10-3, 7-7-2 NESCAC) battles second-seeded Middlebury (17-3-4, 12-2-0 NESCAC). The Mules built a 2-0 lead 1:14 into their 2008 semifinal contest at Middlebury before the Panthers eventually tied the contest and forced overtime. Colby was able to take the game in the extra session and reached the championship final for the first time ever. During this year’s quarterfinals, the Mules edged rival Bowdoin 2-1, while the Panthers were a 3-1 winner over Williams. Middlebury, which has won four NESCAC titles, the most recent coming in 2006, took the two regular season meetings, 2-1 on Jan. 9 in Waterville, Maine and 6-3 on Feb. 1 in Middlebury, Vt.

Tickets will be sold separately for the Women’s and Men’s Ice Hockey semifinal games, and information on how to purchase tickets will be made available by Amherst next week. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students and children for the semifinal and championship rounds.

2009 NESCAC MEN'S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinals - Friday, March 6 at Amherst
No. 3 Williams vs. No. 2 Middlebury - 4:00 p.m.
No. 4 Trinity at No. 1 Amherst - 7:30 p.m.

Championship - Saturday, March 7 at Amherst
Semifinal Winners - 7:30 p.m.

2009 NESCAC WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinals - Saturday, March 7 at Amherst
No. 6 Connecticut College at No. 1 Amherst - 12:00 p.m.
No. 4 Colby vs. No. 2 Middlebury - 3:30 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, March 8 at Amherst
Semifinal Winners - 2:00 p.m.