AMHERST, MA – Despite jumping out to a two-goal lead halfway through the second period, a late comeback sunk the Amherst men's ice hockey team in NESCAC action on Saturday, Jan. 17. Despite giving up an early goal, the Mammoths found their footing and built a lead on Tufts heading into the final period. However, two Jumbo goals late in the third doomed the Mammoths, falling in a 5-4 barnburner.

With the loss the Mammoths drop to 7-5-2 on the season while the Jumbos improve to 6-7-1. Amherst has a chance to right the ship with their final non-conference matchup of the season next on their schedule, heading down I-91 to Westfield to take on the Owls on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Like in their game the day prior, the Mammoths gave up and early goal that set them back 1-0 early. Coming with just 2:39 off the clock, Tufts was able to skate down the right side of the ice and feed the puck into the slot. Though goalie Vincent Lamberti made the first save, the Jumbos jumped on the rebound attempt to grab the lead.

* Again, like their game against the Camels, the Mammoths were able to even the game late in the first, this time while shorthanded. With a man in the penalty box, the Mammoths were able to break out of their defensive zone, with Quinton Gove feeding Ryan Corcoran with just one defender to beat at the far blueline. Vincent Velocci trailed the play, got a cross-ice pass from Corcoran, and netted to tie the game at 1-1.

* The second period brought a flurry of offense, with four goals in the first quarter of the period. The first came from Amherst just 45 seconds in, with John Small scoring on a tap in after some slick passing from his team left him wide open in the slot. Zachary Murray and Ben Ritter were credited with the assists on the play.

* Tufts netted next to even the game at 2-2, but the Mammoths got two more of their own in response. The first came from Josh Burke, with Zach Jesse winning the puck on the forecheck and passing to Burke for a top-corner laser. The second came about 90 seconds later: after a shot from the point went high off the boards, the puck was regained by Amherst and found its way to Jacob Pohl for a turn-and-finish to put his side up 4-2.

* This score held until the Jumbos got their comeback going: despite the shots going the Mammoths' way, Tufts capitalized on their first true chance in a while, making it 4-3 heading into the third.

* However, while the third period was even, the Mammoths could not convert, and the Jumbos scored twice in the final 8 minutes of the game, with the dagger coming with just 1:45 remaining to down Amherst 5-4 in comeback style.
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
* The Mammoths outshot Tufts 26-24 in shots on goal, but Tufts got one more attempt overall (51-50.)

* Captain Corcoran notched the first multi-assist game of his career against the Jumbos, putting 2 on the board.

* Netminder Lamberti made 19 saves against the Jumbos.