MIDDLEBURY, VT – Consecutive goals from Quinton Fox secured a 3-2 decision for the Amherst College men's hockey team over Middlebury College this evening at Chip Kenyon '85 Arena. 

The Mammoths end the first semester of play at 5-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play. The Mammoths are set to play Endicott College on Sunday, December 31st at 2 p.m. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Panthers secured their first goal of the second period after a poke check from an Amherst defenseman slid the puck to Ryan Pineault at the blue line. Pineault took the puck behind the net from the base of the left face-off circle and passed it to Chris Garbe for a one-timer into the net at 16:24 into the opening period. 
• 9:01 into the second period marked Middlebury's last goal of the game, where Jin Lee won the puck from a puck scrum against the boards in the right corner of the Mammoth's zone. Lee took the puck along the boards and skated up from behind the right post into the low slot for a backhanded shot into the net.
• Just 13 seconds after the Panther's 2-0 lead, the Mammoths dumped the puck into the Middlebury zone. Max Thiessen picked up the puck from a clear at the left point, where he then shot into the pads of Panthers' goaltender Andrew Heinze. Immediately after Heinze made the save, senior Connor Guest stole the rebound and found the back of the net with a wrist shot. 
•  Amherst kept the puck inside of Middlebury's zone with a solid offense that commenced with Josh Burke's pass into the left face-off circle to Fox. Heinze picked up the shot, but he was unable to stop the play from the scramble inside the crease before Fox slid the puck just behind him to even the score at 14:40 of the second period. 
• The final goal of the evening was also given to Fox at 1:34 into the third period, where he intercepted a Middlebury clear. Fox skated his way into the right face-off circle and spun into a backhanded shot that found the top left corner of the net. 
• Amherst goalie Connor Leslie came up big at the end of the third period, making two crucial saves while the Panthers were on a 5-on-4 power-play and then a 6-on-4 advantage with their goalie pulled in the final minute.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Middlebury gained the upper hand in face-offs by winning 36 out of 58 draws, with Michael Fairfax securing 11 out of 16 for the Panthers.
• Amherst had a slight advantage in shots on goal, registering 32 compared to Middlebury's 31 on target. 
• Both teams had 5 penalties throughout the match, with three of Amherst's power plays occurring in the opening of the second period. 
• Both Heinze and Leslie recorded 29 saves.