WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- In the first round of the 2012 NESCAC Tournament Williams College will take to the road and play Tufts University at the Valley Forum II in Malden, Mass., at 4:35 PM.
Tufts (12-10-2, 9-8-1 NESCAC) is the fourth seed in the tourney and the Ephs (11-8-5, 8-8-2 NESCAC) are seeded fifth. This marks the first time that the Jumbos have hosted a tournament game in the 12-year history of the NESCAC Tournament. The Jumbos are in search of their first NESCAC Tourney win.
Tufts has scored three-or-more goals in each of its last four wins while holding opponents to two goals or less. In their last three losses, the Jumbos have been out-scored 23-2.
A trio of Jumbos have accumulated over 20 points on the season with sophomore forward Kyle Gallegos leading the charge with 25 points on a team high 16 goals and nine assists. First year forward Tyler Voight has registered 13 assists and has netted 10 goals for 23 points, while junior forward Dylan Plimmer has contributed seven goals and a team best 16 assists for 23 points.
The Ephs and the Jumbos split the season series, as the visiting team recorded a win on their opponent's ice with Williams winning 4-1 on Dec. 2 and Tufts taking the Jan. 27 affair in overtime 3-2.
Gallegos netted the OT game-winner versus the Ephs on January 27th with just over 47 seconds remaining in the extra session. While the Ephs' 4-1 win on the road was fueled by two goals from sophomore forward Nick Anderson. Anderson netted a power play tally and a short handed goal.
In 1,302 minutes between the pipes senior goalie Scott Barchard has saved 770 of 835 shots (.922), while allowing 65 goals for a 2.99 goals against average.
The Ephs, meanwhile, will be looking to build off a much-needed victory in Sunday's finale, 5-1 over Hamilton, as it was their first in their last eight games (1-6-1). During the 2011 NESCAC tournament, Williams was the only higher-seeded team to survive the quarterfinals and advanced as far as the championship for the first time in over a decade.
Williams also boasts a trio of players who have accumulated 20 or more points on the year. Nick Anderson, a transfer from Hamilton, is the Ephs top scorer with 11 goals and 13 assists (24 points). Senior defenseman Justin Troiani is the team leader in assists with 14 and his eight goals gives him 22 points on the year. First year forward Craig Kitto has scored eight goals and his one dozen assists gives him 20 points on the season.
Senior goalie Ryan Purdy has stopped 681 of 733 shots he has faced for a save percentage of .929. Purdy sports a goals against average of 2.54, allowing 52 goals this winter.
2012 NESCAC Men's Ice Hockey Championship Seeding
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 25 at higher seeds
No. 8 Hamilton at No. 1 Amherst – 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Trinity at No. 2 Bowdoin – 4:00 p.m.
No. 6 Wesleyan at No. 3 Middlebury – 4:00 p.m.
No. 5 Williams at No. 4 Tufts – TBA
Semifinals – Saturday, March 3 at highest remaining seed – 1:00/4:00 p.m.
Highest remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed
Remaining quarterfinal winners
Championship – Sunday, March 4 – 2:00 p.m.
Semifinal winners
NOTE: If the Semifinals and Championship of the NESCAC Men's Ice Hockey Championship are held at the same site as the NESCAC Women's Ice Hockey Championship, then the Semifinals will be on Friday, March 2, at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m., and the championship will be on Saturday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Directions To Valley Forum II, Malden, Mass. for Tufts Hockey
Take I-93 to exit 32. Off ramp, take Rt. 60 East for about 2.3 miles. After passing Ferry St., rink is on left next across street from Malden High School. You will pass rink on your left, and then take next left to reverse direction on Rt. 60 to get to rink entrance.
