The Hamilton College men’s hockey team pushed its unbeaten streak to eight, rallying for a 3-2 NESCAC win over Connecticut College Saturday in New London, Conn.
Box score
The Continentals, 7-0-1 since Dec. 5, raised their record to 9-3-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the NESCAC.
Neil Conway ’18 scored the game-winning goal with 5:42 left in the third period as Hamilton -- who is among the ‘others receiving votes’ in both national polls this week -- extended the program’s longest unbeaten stretch since the 2010-11 team closed the regular season by going 6-0-2.
Conway’s game winner was an unassisted score that gave the Continentals their second -- and final -- lead. They had fallen behind 1-0 early in the first period then taken a lead after scoring twice in a 56-second span of the second before the Camels (3-8-2, 0-5-2 NESCAC) tied the score eight minutes later.
Evan Buitenhuis ’18 made 20 saves to raise his record to 9-2-1. He ranks second nationally in save percentage (.946) and fourth with a goals against average of 1.47.
Hamilton’s quick strike in the opening minutes of the second period started with a power-play goal by Kenny Matheson ‘16 at 1:44. Matheson’s goal was his third of the winter and was set up by Tyler Bruneteau ’18 and Jason Brochu ‘19. Hamilton’s leading scorer, Robbie Murden ‘17, gave the visitors their first lead, converting a pass from Jon Carkeek ’17 into his team-best 11th goal. Murden has moved into the top 10 nationally in goals per game.
Connecticut College’s top line was responsible for both Camel goals. Tim DiPretoro opened the scoring by notching his seventh goal of the season, with linemates Joe Birmingham and Joe Giordano assisting.
Giordano, whose boarding penalty set the Continentals up with the power play that kick-started their comeback, tied the score with his own power-play goal midway through the second period. It marked just the fourth time this year that Hamilton’s penalty killers (ranked second in Division III) gave up a goal.
Hamilton continues its weekend road swing Sunday with a 4 p.m. game at Tufts.
