AMHERST, MA – Despite a gritty performance, the Amherst men's ice hockey team fell to a nationally-ranked Hamilton team on Friday, Jan. 23. Returning to home ice after a quick, one-game, away trip, the Mammoths took on the No. 3 Continentals in the return leg after a loss in the season opener. The rematch was much more tightly contested than the first game, with physical play on both ends defining the contest, with Amherst falling 3-0.

With the loss the Mammoths drop to 8-6-2 on the season while the Continentals improve to 13-1-2. Amherst will not take the ice again for a week, with time to rest and reset before their next game on Friday, Jan. 30 against Trinity. The Mammoths will face the Bantams for the second time this season after winning the first meeting 4-2. Puck drop at Orr Rink is scheduled for 7 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Though both teams had chances, Hamilton had the better of play early. That lead to the first goal of the game, with consistent offensive pressure and smooth puck movement putting them in front of goal. While Mammoths' goaltender Andrew Palena saved the first two attempts of the possession, he could not corral the puck and the Continentals' Jackson Krock put in the rebound to put Amherst in a 1-0 hole.

* The second period was much of the same as the first: physical play dictated the pace of the game, with both teams flying up and down the ice the whole period, and extracurricular shoving was present at almost every stoppage of play.

* On the other end of the ice, both squads got their goal-scoring chances but was able to convert. Amherst, however, had the two most dangerous shots of the period. The first was a one-on-one chance from Andrew Carmody as he skated out of the penalty box and in on the break after serving a bench minor. The second came just a few minutes later, as Cristobal Tola found space on the weak side on a two-on-one break. Carmody's shot was saved, while Tola's flew just above the top corner of the net.

* The game entered a pivotal final period with Amherst facing a 1-0 deficit. The home side's first opportunity of the final period was a good one, with Ryan Corcoran getting loose on the penalty kill, chasing the puck down in the right corner and finding Jacob Pohl trailing the play in the high slot. The junior's shot was saved and the Continentals stayed in the lead.

* Hamilton doubled the lead to 2-0 with 8:15 to go. After winning the puck back on the forecheck, they moved it to the point, where a backhanded pass to the bottom edge of the circle was one-timed past Palena by Luke Tchor.

* The Continentals sealed the win with an empty netter with 2:49 to go, winning 3-0.
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
* The Continentals outshot the Mammoths 33-15 in shots on goal on the night.

* Vincent Velocci led the Mammoths with 4 shots with 3 on goal; Zach Jesse took 4 attempts with two on net.

* Palena made 30 saves in the loss.