Contact: Justin Long

AMHERST, Mass. – Brian Safstrom '14 and Eddie Effinger '12 each scored in the final seven minutes of regulation and Jonathan La Rose '12 made 22 saves to lead the Amherst College men's hockey team in a 2-0 season-opening win over Hamilton College Friday night in Orr Rink.

Each team put only six shots on goal in the opening period, but Amherst (1-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) got into a rhythm and out-shot Hamilton (0-1-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) by a 17-12 margin in the second frame and had a convincing 22-4 edge in the decisive third. 

Making his first start for Amherst since the 2008-09 season, La Rose improved to 21-3-1 as a Lord Jeff by posting his fourth career shutout. Hamilton goaltender Joe Quattrocchi '14 held the hosts scoreless through the first 53:09 and finished with 43 saves in a solid effort. The Continentals were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Jeffs were 0-for-3. 

Hamilton put together a dominant spurt midway through the opening period but came up empty. After a one-timer by Anthony Ruberto '13 went wide, Jordan Berninger '14 came out of the penalty box and immediately worked a 2-on-1 with Drew Jelinek '13, but the Continentals couldn't get a shot off. With two minutes to play in the period, the Jeffs nearly capitalized on a Hamilton turnover deep in the visitors' end but were unable to put a shot on net. 

The Jeffs had two great scoring opportunities in the second period but were denied by Quattrocchi each time. The first chance came five minutes in when Nick Brunette '13 stole the puck in the Continental zone and dropped it back to Safstrom, whose shot led to a rebound attempt by Kevin English '12, who was also turned away. With three minutes to go Amherst worked a 4-on-2 but could not take advantage. 

Amherst controlled the third period from the opening drop and finally broke through at 13:10. English came up with the puck after the Jeffs won a faceoff and found Brandon Hew '13, who was denied on a shot from the point. Safstrom was there for the rebound and slid a shot under Quattrocchi, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead with 6:50 to play. 

The Lord Jeffs got their second goal when Andrew Kurlandski '14 passed the puck ahead to Effinger, who gave it to Erik Hansen '14 on his right. Hansen fed it right back to Effinger, who capitalized on the give-and-go and handed his team a 2-0 advantage with only 2:11 on the clock. The Continentals put an extra attacker on the ice in the final minute but could not find a solution for La Rose. 

The Lord Jeffs will return to action Tuesday, Nov. 22, when they travel to Westfield State University for a 7 p.m. non-conference game with the Owls. Hamilton—which finished the 2010-11 season atop the NESCAC standings—will host Cortland State on Tuesday.