Amherst College Athletics

tAMHERST, MA – Zachary Murray and Ryan Tucker each scored twice Tuesday afternoon as the Amherst College men's hockey team picked up its first win of the season via a 6-1 decision over Saint Michael's at Orr Rink. 

Amherst (1-1-0) will host SUNY Geneseo Saturday at 3 p.m. at Orr Rink. 


GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Just 1:53 into the first period, Tucker orchestrated a long pass from Amherst's zone to find Murray. Murray took the puck 1-vs-1 against the goaltender, made a quick pull to the right, and scored the first goal of Mammoth's season. 
• With 11:15 remaining in the opening period, the Mammoths initiated a stellar passing sequence, creating an offensive rush from the Amherst zone. Zachary Jesse picked up a loose puck, delivering it to Connor Guest from the opposite corner. Guest, in turn, set up a pass for Ryan Corcoran in neutral ice. Corcoran then engaged in a one-two play with Oscar Smink before shooting it into Purple Knight goaltender Cole Managan's pads. 
• With 7:56 left in the first period, Murray won a puck scrum by the boards and pressured Managan, where he brought him to the right side of the net and quickly passed it off to Tucker in the slot for a one-time finish into the top right-hand corner for Amherst's second goal.
• In the period's third scoring play for the Mammoths, Tucker initiated the sequence by threading a pass to Murray. This set the stage for a swift deflection by Murray into the net from the far post at 19:08. 
• The only goal of the second period came when Ben Kuzma delivered a pass to Jesse stationed at the blue line. Jesse unleashed a shot that was initially saved, but Quinton Fox seized the rebound, slotting the puck into the net to secure the Mammoth's fourth goal. 
• Only 3:02 into the third period, Murray delivered the puck to Fox from behind the goal. Fox, in a quick play, passed to Kuzma, who rushed in 1-on-1 with Managan and backhanded the puck into the net, beating the goaltender. 
• Case Kantgias broke the shutout at 11:05 into the third period. Kantgias picked up a pass from Ty Bloom, one-timing it past Connor Leslie. 
• With 2:56 left in the final period, Jesse broke up the Purple Knights' offensive movement and scaled a pass to Alton Machen. Tucker received the final pass from Machen at the crease and secured a sixth goal for the Mammoths. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Amherst won 32 out of 52 face-offs, as Murray and Matt Toporowski both won 9. 
• The Mammoths finished with a 47-10 advantage in shots on goal.
• Amherst was penalized 3 times and successfully killed off all power plays by St. Michael's. 
• Connor Leslie saved 9 out of 10 shots made by the Purple Knights while Managan stopped 41 shots.