MIDDLEBURY, VT - The Amherst College men's hockey team fell at third-ranked NESCAC rival Middlebury College on Sunday, 7-2. Middlebury seniors John Dawson and Kevin Cooper and junior Brian Phinney each scored two goals as the Panthers improved to 17-2 overall and 12-2 in conference play. The Jeffs drop to 9-9-2 overall, 4-9-1 in conference.

Dawson opened the scoring with a power-play goal at the 7:38-mark in the first period, but Amherst sophomore A.J. Greco (Williamsville, NY) knotted the score at 1-1 just over three minutes later off assists from sophomore Scott Aldrich (Wilmington, MA) and first-year Brandon Zangel (Highlands Ranch, CO). Cooper pushed Middlebury back ahead 2-1 with just under two minutes left in the opening frame and Dawson netted the eventual game-winner on a penalty shot just 21 seconds later. The Panthers tacked on four-unanswered goals in the second and third sessions until Amherst senior Josh Hoffman (Rydal, PA) capped the scoring off feeds from sophomore Brad Craigen (Kitchener, Ontario) and senior Chris Norqual (Eden Prairie, MN).

Amherst first-year goalie Josh Fillman (Charlestown, MA) nabbed 35 saves, while Middlebury senior Marc Scheuer collected 13 saves.

Amherst returns to action Friday at 7:30 p.m. against visiting NESCAC foe Tufts University.