NESCAC hockey playoff predictions
by Levi Lorenzo ’19, Sports Editor
Tufts @ Trinity
Trinity, last year’s NCAA runner-up, boasted the top offense and second-best defense overall in the NESCAC this year and the second-best offense and best defense in conference games. Tufts ranks ninth offensively overall and in conference games, along with ninth defensively overall and eighth in conference games. The Bantams should cruise on to the semifinals.
Prediction: Trinity 4, Tufts 1
Williams @ Connecticut College
Williams won big in New London, CT in the first matchup this season between the two teams, dropping seven goals on the Camels. Connecticut got revenge on Jan. 27 in Williamstown, MA. The Camels boast a better defense and offense in conference play, led by Jason Moreau and Ryan Petti, who are first and tied-for-second respectively in conference scoring. The Ephs, however, are 3–0–1 in their last four games. Look for Williams to pull off the upset
Prediction: Williams 4, Conn. College 3
Colby @ Amherst
Despite being the sixth-seed, Colby charges into this matchup with the Mammoths with a high-octane offense, having scored a NESCAC-best 57 goals in conference games. Colby won this matchup at home pretty handily, while Amherst dominated the Mules in Massachusetts. Amherst has lost just one game at home, a non-conference loss to powerhouse Endicott. While this figures to be a good matchup, home ice tips the scale to the Mammoths.
Prediction: Amherst 3, Colby 2
Wesleyan @ Hamilton
Wesleyan boasts the NESCAC’s top two overall scoring leaders in Dylan Holze and Tyler Watt. Hamilton has the best overall scoring defense (second in conference play) and the conference’s best goaltender, Evan Buitenhuis ’18. Hamilton will call on the likes of Neil Conway ’18, Brandon Willett ’18, Rory Gagnon ’19, and team-scoring leader Jason Brochu ’19 to find the back of the net, while Buitenhuis and the defense look to shut down the Cardinal attack. A rowdy crowd in Sage Rink and a staunch defense should be too much for Wesleyan to overcome.
Prediction: Hamilton 3, Wesleyan 1
Wesleyan @ Middlebury
Middlebury is the best team, statistically-speaking, in the conference, scoring more goals and yielding fewer than any other team in conference play. Jessica Young and Maddie Winslow are the second and fourth-ranked overall scorers in the NESCAC, respectively. Wesleyan’s offense has scored a paltry seventeen goals in sixteen NESCAC games, while giving up 38 in-conference goals, and 55 overall goals in 24 games. Middlebury will roll on to host the final four.
Prediction: Middlebury 4, Wesleyan 0
Colby @ Connecticut College
The Camels boast the third-best offense and defense in conference play, while the Mules sit in the bottom third of the conference in both categories. When the teams met three weekends ago in Waterville, Connecticut swept the weekend winning by a combined score of 7–2. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but the Camels are a good bet in this one.
Prediction: Conn. College 2, Colby 0
Williams @ Amherst
Since starting the season 2–3 in conference play, Amherst has gone 8–1–1 and rides a hot streak into the playoffs. The Mammoths have the conference’s second-best offense, led by the NESCAC’s leading scorer, Alex Toupal, and the fourth-best defense. Williams has the conference’s third-best offense but ranks in the lower half of the conference in defense. Amherst won both matchups earlier this season and has not lost at home since Jan. 5. The Ephs will put up a fight, but the Mammoths take this one.
Prediction: Amherst 3, Williams 2
Bowdoin @ Hamilton
Sam Walther ’18 is the NESCAC’s best goaltender and has led Hamilton to the best overall defense and to a close second in conference defense to Amherst. Bowdoin ranks statistically in the middle-of-the-pack in the conference and the Continentals and Polar Bears each scored 32 goals in 16 conference games. Bowdoin did not get on the scoreboard in two games with Hamilton in Brunswick, ME earlier this season; one game was a 2–0 Continental victory and the other a scoreless draw. These two teams met last year in Clinton for a quarterfinal match and the Polar Bears scored the only goal in double overtime to win. This year, the Continentals and Walther outlast their foe.
Prediction: Hamilton 1, Bowdoin 0
