AMHERST, MA – Two goals each in the first and second periods lifted the Amherst men's ice hockey team to a victory their last non-conference outing of the regular season on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Taking the short bus ride down to Westfield to take on Westfield State, the Mammoths scored in bunches, twice netting two goals in less than two minutes to win 4-2.

With the win the Mammoths improve to 8-5-2 on the season while the Owls drop to 11-5. Amherst returns to NESCAC play in three days' time, with a one-game weekend on the docket. The Mammoths will face No. 3 Hamilton on Friday, Jan. 23, with puck drop at Orr Rink scheduled for 7 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* The Mammoths struck first, taking the lead with 11:51 to go in the first frame. After a face off in their offensive zone was kept in by Josh Burke, he sent the puck across the ice into the right corner. There, John Small chased it down, dug it out of the boards, spun to the inside and whipped a wrist-shot that found its way off the Owls' goaltender and into the net to give his team a 1-0 lead.

* They doubled their advantage just under two minutes later, with another weird bounce rewarding Amherst's tough forecheck. With Westfield State unable to clear the puck, it was chipped into the same right corner by Ben Snyderman. This time, it was Jacob Pohl who picked up the puck, throwing a centering pass in front of the net that was blocked and rolled in increase the margin to 2-0.

* The Mammoths weren't done yet, with their third goal of the night coming 12:33 into the second stanza. After getting the puck back in in their own D-zone, Zachary Murray broke free through the middle and passed to his left for Small. Small took the puck below the red line and slid a pass into the slot for an onrushing Caden Olenczak. The first-year did the rest, finishing the break for a 3-0 score.

* Forty-five seconds later, it was 4-0. This time, it was Quinton Gove who scored, controlling an Andrew Carmody pass at the point and rifling the puck home from the top of the right circle.

* Though Westfield scored twice in the final period, the first with 3:38 remaining in the and the second with 42 seconds on the clock, that is as close as it would get with Amherst winning 4-2.
 
BY THE NUMBERS:

* The Mammoths outshot the Owls 40-29 on the day.

* Pohl's goal was his second in as many games, and Burke and Murray's assists on the first goal of the game extended both of their point streaks to three games apiece.

* Netminder Matteo De Luca made 27 saves.