CLINTON, NY – The Amherst College men's hockey team roared back from 3-0 and 4-1 deficits Saturday, but ultimately came up one goal short in a 4-3 loss at Hamlton in the NESCAC quarterfinals. 

The Continentals advanced to a 17-7-1 record, propelled by sophomore Jackon Krock's two-goal game this afternoon. The No. 4 seed Continentals are set to face third-seeded Tufts University for the NESCAC semifinals at Trinity College on Saturday (March 2) at 1 p.m.

Amherst head coach Jack Arena coached his 1,000th game at the college today, making him the fourth head coach in Amherst history to do so, joining Sue Everden, Bill Thurston and David Hixon. 

The Mammoths concluded their season with a record of 14-10-1.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

• During a first-period power play, Hamilton's James Philpott shot the puck on goal. It circled the end boards and was passed back to him at the blue line. Philpott then passed to Luke Tchor, who took a slap-shot that Krock tipped in at 9:23 into the opening period.
• With 1:45 left in the first period, the Continentals swarmed the Mammoth's zone. Max Bulawka passed the puck into the low slot, where Grisha Gotovets wrapped around the net to secure the match's second goal.
• On a power play, Gotovets sent the puck to Tchor, stationed at the right point. Tchor delivered a high pass to Krock, who then knocked the puck down into the low slot to find the back of the net at 9:05 in the second period for a 3-0 Hamilton lead. 
• In a 3-on-2 opportunity, Josh Burke received the clear out of the Mammoth's zone from Andrew Carmody. Burke carried the puck up the ice to find Tyler Bourque on his right and set him up for the wrist shot on net to break the shutout at 18:55 in the second period. 
• At 11:05 in the final period, Ryan Brown tipped away the puck from the Mammoth defense and quickly dished it off to Matt Gellerman for a centering pass to return the Continental's three-goal edge.
• Just 33 seconds after Hamilton's fourth goal, Burke intercepted a pass, skated hard down the middle of the ice, weaving his way through the Continental defense, and scored an unassisted point. 
• Jack Grant's pads deflected Bobby Luca's shot from the right side, and Ryan Tucker buried the rebound into the net with 1:15 remaining in the third period.
• The Mammoths pulled Wisco in exchange for an extra attack twice in the final 75 seconds, but despite taking two shots on goal, were unable to find the equalizer.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Hamilton outshot Amherst 37-36. 
• The Continentals won 44 of the 77 faceoffs this evening, with Bulawka winning 15 of the 21 he took.
• The Mammoths went 1-4 on power plays, while the Continentals went 2-4. 
• Alex Wisco saved 33 of the 37 shots he faced on net.