AMHERST, MA – Multi-point performances from senior Josh Burke and junior Oliver Flynn helped Amherst men's ice hockey team to an upset win over No. 9 SUNY Geneseo on Saturday, Nov. 29. In their first contest of a back-to-back weekend, Amherst got on the board first and then laid down the hammer in the third period, scoring twice to seal a 3-0 victory.  

With the win, the Mammoths improve to 3-2 on the season while the Knights drop to 5-2-1. In less than 24 hours the Mammoths will hit the road for their next game, a bout with another nationally ranked opponent in No. 11 Babson. Puck drop in Babson Park on Sunday, Nov. 30 is scheduled for 3 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* After a very even first period, the Mammoths got things going in the second, with the home side weathering an early storm: goalie Vincent Lamberti made 2 key saves the defense blocked a couple of shots on the way to staving off 6 straight Geneseo attempts and killing off a penalty to keep things level.

* That kill seemed to swing the momentum, with Amherst firing 3 quick shots and going on the man advantage due to sustained pressure. That pressure paid off on the first faceoff of the power play: a win at the dot from Flynn saw the junior knock the puck back to John Small. Small found Zack Jesse at the point, who faked a shot and laid the puck to his left for Burke. Burke turned and rifled a slap shot low to the far corner to give his team the 1-0 advantage.
 
* Stellar defensive play kept the potent Knights offense from tying the game, with the Mammoths killing off 3 more power play attempts and Lamberti racking up 12 saves after his team grabbed the lead to keep them in the driver's seat.
 
* That defensive play allowed Amherst to effectively put the game to bed with 3 minutes to go. A Lamberti save sprung the Mammoths' break, with the clearance attempt stolen on the forecheck by Burke. The senior left the puck for a trailing Matt Vander Vort, who lasered the puck to the far post for the 2-0 lead.
 
* With time running out, Geneseo pulled their goaltender, but an empty-net goal from Flynn put the game out of reach. The final horn blew, and the Mammoths had officially upset the Knights, 3-0.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
*  Though the Knights outshot the Mammoths 58-53 overall, Amherst held the advantage in shots on goal at 32-25. Defensively, the Mammoths recorded 17 blocked shots, and went 4-4 on the penalty kill.

* Burke again put on a clinic on the offensive end, extending his point-streak to 5 games to start the season with his two-point effort. Flynn also recorded a multi-point game for the second straight contest.

* First-year netminder Lamberti made 25 saves in his second shutout of the season.