Contact: Ben Badua

AMHERST, Mass. - Johnny Van Siclen '13 (Carlisle, N.Y.) netted a pair of goals to lead the eighth-ranked Amherst men's hockey team to a 3-0 win over Lake Forest College at Orr Rink on Friday afternoon.

Improving to 8-1-0 overall on the year, the Jeffs are off to the best start since the 1999-2000 squad opened the season with an 8-0-1 mark. The Foresters fell to 1-10-0 with the loss.

Applying much of the pressure in the game's opening minutes, Lake Forest sophomore Pat Charron registered the Foresters' first good scoring chance, finding the left pad of Amherst netminder Nathan Corey '13 (Anchorage, Alaska) with a slap shot from just inside the blue line.

Earning a power play with just over 16 minutes left in the first period, Amherst quickly took advantage of the man-up advantage with Mike Moher '13 (Toronto, Ontario) slotting a pass from the right circle to a charging Van Siclen in front of the net for the Jeffs' first score. 

Catching Lake Forest in a line change with under eight minutes remaining in the period, Amherst sophomore Andrew Kurlandski (Kirkwood, Mo.) led an odd man rush, putting a pair of shots on net, but junior goalie Austin Emey made a couple of sprawling saves to keep Lake Forest within one. 

Looking to get on the board early in the second, sophomore Kevin Spotts tested Corey with a shot from point blank range, but the Amherst junior made his 10th stop of the afternoon to preserve the Lord Jeff lead. 

Trying to add to the Amherst tally, Brian Safstrom '14 (Woodinville, Wash.) tracked down a loose puck in front after an initial shot from the point. Slipping a quick shot past Emey for his fourth goal of the season, the forward staked the Jeffs to a 2-0 edge with 10:34 left in the period.

Hoping to finally break through, Lake Forest first-year Jason McAloon skated to the front of the Amherst cage before ripping a shot that prompted a Corey save. With the Lord Jeff netminder unable to control the rebound, McAloon got a stick on the bouncing puck but pushed his second try just wide of the right post, keeping the visitors scoreless.

With 4:25 remaining in the second, Van Siclen lifted a hard wrist shot from the left circle over Emey's shoulder to give the Purple and White a decisive 3-0 edge heading into the final frame.

Wanting to set the tone to start the third, Christopher Finch '14 (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) moved into the offensive zone before testing new Lake Forest goaltender Taylor D'Agostino (Bozeman, Mont.) with a rising backhand.

Still down three with under 13 to play, first-year Philippe Boucher nearly put the Foresters on the board with a pair of chances in front of the net, but Corey again made a couple of big saves to deny the forward a goal en route to his fifth career shutout.

Amherst finished with a 30-26 shot advantage with Corey making 26 saves to improve to 2-1-0 on the year. Emey made 16 stops in the loss.

The Lord Jeffs return to action at Manhattanville on Tuesday, Jan. 3.