AMHERST, MA - After blowing a two-goal lead to visiting R.I.T. on Friday night, the Amherst College men's hockey team returned to Orr Rink Saturday afternoon and surrendered a third period, 4-3, advantage to visiting ECAC foe Elmira College, en route to a 5-4 loss. Senior defender Kenny Keil (Levittown, NY) redirected a slapper past Jeff junior goalie Jaffrie Perrotti (Winthrop, MA) for the game-winner, 12:53 into the final stanza. First-year forward Beau Kretzman (Edina, MN) tallied a hat trick and an assist for the Jeffs, including two powerplay goals and one shorthanded tally. Senior forward Greg Carr (Hanover, MA) also added a goal and an assist for the home team while classmate Darren Reaume (West Seneca, NY) tallied two assists.
The Soaring Eagles drew first blood one minute into the first period when junior forward Clark McPherson (Casper, WY) redirected a shot from the point between Perrotti's shin pads. The Jeffs would counter 6:26 into the opening stanza, when Reaume gathered a missed shot and flipped the puck across the crease to Carr for the easy tap-in powerplay goal.
Elmira sophomore forward Pierre Rivard (New Liskeard, ONT) fired the first of two quick second period goals into the net, off a scorching wrister from the right circle. Junior forward Jason Silverthorn (Owen Sound, ONT) would show his patience as he skated past a sprawled out Perrotti to wrist one into the top corner of the net to give the Soaring Eagles a 3-1 advantage. Kretzman tallied his first goal 8:58 into the second period on a one-timer off a feed from Carr. Amherst tied the score 3-3 when Kretzman scored his second from Reaume at 16:49 heading into the final stanza.
Kretzman completed the hat trick when he backhanded one from the slot over the shoulder of Elmira senior goalie Rob Ligas (Scarborough, ONT) giving the Jeffs a 4-3 third period advantage. Less than a minute later, first-year forward Jason Cassells knotted the score at four, shooting a wrister past a screened Perrotti. The visitors would score the game-winner moments later, when Keil redirected a shot past Perrotti. Amherst could not overcome the deficit, having a goal disallowed late in third, and failing to convert on a powerplay opportunity to end the game.
With the loss, the Jeffs fall to 2-4-3, while Elmira improves to 7-4. Amherst returns to action after the winter break, Wednesday, January 2nd at 7 p.m., when they face visiting Plattsburgh.
