The Hamilton College men’s hockey team evened their record at 2-2-1 with a 5-1 non-conference win at SUNY Canton on Saturday night.
Box score
Robbie Murden ’17 collected a natural hat trick to lead the Continentals, who scored the game’s last four goals over the final two periods. Murden, who also assisted on Hamilton’s initial goal, posted career-best totals of three goals and four points. His linemates, Pat Curtis ’15 and Kenny Matheson ’16, finished with a goal and two assists apiece.
After Matheson’s fourth goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period, Murden scored his first three goals of the year in a span of 25 minutes. The hat trick was the first for the Continentals in 69 games, dating back to a three-goal performance by Anthony Scarpino ’12 in a win at Curry College on Dec. 31, 2011.
Hamilton’s penalty kill unit, which entered the game ranked third in Division III, stopped all four Canton power-play opportunities. The Continentals have allowed just one power-play goal in 21 chances this year. Charlie Fennell ’17 made 24 saves to earn the win in his first appearance of the season.
Matheson put the Continentals ahead to stay, scoring 3:56 after the host Kangaroos (1-6-1) had tied the game with an early second-period goal.
Murden gave Hamilton a 3-1 lead at the 14:10 mark of the second, scoring off passes from Curtis, who also assisted on Matheson’s game-winner, and Scott Vazquez ’16. In the final period, Murden completed his first career hat trick, scoring an unassisted goal at 7:22 and closing out the scoring with 70 seconds left. Matheson and Bennett Hambrook ’17 assisted on the final goal.
Curtis gave the Continentals a 1-0 lead with 6:21 remaining in the opening period with his second goal of the season. Matheson and Murden, who has had a hand in seven of Hamilton’s eight goals against Canton the past two years, picked up assists.
The Kangaroos tied the score 2:23 into the second on the first goal this season by Eric Witzel ’17. Kasey Kulczycki ’18 and Tyler Ralph ’18 contributed assists. Luis Puig ’16 stopped 22 shots for Canton.
The Continentals are back in action on Friday, Dec. 5, when they return to NESCAC play with a 7 p.m. game at nationally ranked No. 15 Williams College. The Kangaroos play at Manhattanville on Friday night.
